Naldemedine and Magnesium Oxide as First-Line Medications for Opioid-Induced Constipation: A Comparative Database Study in Japanese Patients With Cancer Pain.

Introduction Naldemedine and magnesium oxide are common first-line early laxative medications used in the real-world scenario in Japan, for patients with cancer pain who receive opioid prescriptions, as per a nationwide hospital claims database study. However, the real-world prescription patterns and associated outcomes are unknown. Methods In this retrospective, cohort study using the Medical Data Vision (MDV) database (January 2018 to December 2020), data were collected from eligible patients (who had a long-term prescription of strong opioids, for >30 days) in Japan with naldemedine or magnesium oxide as the first-line laxative prescription, for a long-term opioid prescription for cancer pain with ≥6 months post-opioid observation period.

Gut microbiota of one-and-a-half-year-old food-allergic and healthy children.

Background: Intestinal bacteria may play a role in the development of food allergies. This study aimed to analyze and compare the gut microbiota of food-allergic children with that of healthy children of the same age.

Methods: Stool samples were collected from one-and-a-half-year-old food-allergic (FA group, n = 29) and healthy controls (HC group, n = 19).

A systematic review and meta-analysis of radiotherapy and particle beam therapy for skull base chondrosarcoma: TRP-chondrosarcoma 2024.

Introduction: Chondrosarcoma is a rare malignant bone tumor. Particle beam therapy (PT) can concentrate doses to targets while reducing adverse events. A meta-analysis based on a literature review was performed to examine the efficacy of PT and photon radiotherapy for skull base chondrosarcoma.

Differences in Characteristics Between Patients Who Met or Partly Met the Diagnostic Criteria for Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES).

Background: Some patients with food protein-induced enterocolitis (FPIES)-like allergy do not completely fulfill the diagnostic criteria of the international consensus guideline for FPIES. However, it is unclear whether such FPIES-like patients represent a completely different population from FPIES.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify differences in characteristics between patients with FPIES who fully met diagnostic criteria and those who partly met them.

Immediate pharmacotherapy intensification after cardiac resynchronization therapy: incidence, characteristics, and impact.

Aims: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an established treatment for drug-refractory heart failure (HF) in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB). Acute haemodynamic improvement after CRT implantation may enable the intensification of HF medication soon thereafter. Immediate pharmacotherapy intensification (IPI) after CRT implantation achieves a synergetic effect, possibly leading to a better prognosis.

Usefulness of the Palliative Prognostic Index in Predicting Prognosis when Considering the Transition from Hospital to Home Care in Patients with Terminal Stage Cancer.

Background: No accurate prognostic tool is available for patients with cancer who spend their final days at home. In this study, we examined whether performance status (PS) and the palliative prognostic index (PPI), a well-known prognostic tool in palliative care units, could be used to predict prognosis in the home care setting at the time of intervention by home physicians.

Subjects And Methods: Using medical records, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 132 patients who were referred to the Home Clinic Naginoki for home care for terminal stages of carcinoma in situ.

The primary ciliary dyskinesia-related genetic risk score is associated with susceptibility to adult-onset asthma.

Background: Disturbance of mucociliary clearance is an important factor in the pathogenesis of asthma. We hypothesized that common variants in genes responsible for ciliary function may contribute to the development of asthma with certain phenotypes.

Methods: Three independent adult Japanese populations (including a total of 1,158 patients with asthma and 2,203 non-asthmatic healthy participants) were studied.

Centrilobular emphysema and airway dysanapsis: factors associated with low respiratory function in younger smokers.

Background: Low respiratory function in young adulthood is one of the important factors in the trajectory leading to the future development of COPD, but its morphological characteristics are not well characterised.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 172 subjects aged 40-49 years with ≥10 pack-years smoking history who underwent lung cancer screening by computed tomography (CT) and spirometry at two Japanese hospitals. Emphysema was visually assessed according to the Fleischner Society guidelines and classified into two types: centrilobular emphysema (CLE) and paraseptal emphysema (PSE).

Efficacy and Safety of Lumbar Drainage before Endovascular Treatment for Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysms.

Objective: Intraoperative rebleeding during endovascular treatment for ruptured intracranial aneurysms is associated with poor prognosis. Lumbar drainage is performed preoperatively to control intracranial pressure; however, it is associated with a risk of brain herniation or rebleeding because intracranial pressure may change rapidly. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of preoperative lumbar drainage.

Comparison of Pharmacological Treatments for Agitated Delirium in the Last Days of Life.

Context: Antipsychotics are often used in managing symptoms of terminal delirium, but evidence is limited.

Objectives: To explore the comparative effectiveness of haloperidol with as-needed benzodiazepines (HPD) vs. chlorpromazine (CPZ) vs.

A Case of Odontoid Osteomyelitis.

Odontoid osteomyelitis is a rare infectious disease that manifests as fever and posterior neck pain, while crowned dens syndrome is a relatively common inflammatory disorder with similar signs and symptoms. We describe the case of a 90-year-old woman presenting with fever, posterior neck pain, throat pain, and headache. Crowned dens syndrome was initially diagnosed based on the clinical picture and calcification around the odontoid process on cervical spine CT.

To treat or not to treat: Assessing the role of anti-enterococcal therapy for intra-abdominal infections in patients with cancer.

The clinical significance of enterococci in intra-abdominal infections, particularly those caused by multiple organisms, remains unclear. There are no definitive guidelines regarding the use of empiric therapy with antimicrobial agents targeting enterococci. In this study, we evaluated the impact of the initial antimicrobial therapy administration of anti-enterococcal agents on the treatment of intra-abdominal infections in patients with cancer in whom enterococci were isolated from ascitic fluid cultures.

Single isocenter dynamic conformal arcs-based radiosurgery for brain metastases: Dosimetric comparison with Cyberknife and clinical investigation.

Purpose: To compare the dosimetric quality of automatic multiple brain metastases planning (MBM) with that of Cyberknife (CK) based on the clinical tumor condition, such as the tumor number, size, and location.

Methods: 76 treatment plans for 46 patients treated with CK were recalculated with the MBM treatment planning system. Conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI), gradient index (GI), lesion underdosage volume factor (LUF), healthy tissue overdose volume factor (HTOF), geometric conformity index (g) and mean dose to normal organs were compared between CK and MBM for tumor number, size, shape and distance from the brainstem or chiasm.

Successful Treatment of Malignant Lymphoma Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

A 67-year-old woman with severe aortic stenosis (AS) was transferred to our hospital for large B-cell lymphoma treatment. Because of her high risk of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity due to severe AS and low performance status, the patient was initially treated with doxorubicin-free chemotherapy. However, doxorubicin was considered necessary to achieve complete remission.

Factors associated with the preparedness for bereavement in families of patients with cancer: A secondary analysis of a nationwide bereaved family survey.

Objectives: Insufficient preparedness for bereavement can affect a family's psychological health status after bereavement. However, factors associated with preparedness remain unclear. This study aimed to identify factors associated with preparedness for bereavement in families of patients with cancer.

An analysis of muscle growth after proton beam therapy for pediatric cancer.

Retardation of growth and development is a well-known late effect after radiotherapy for pediatric patients. The goal of the study was to examine the effect of proton beam therapy (PBT) on the growth of muscles included in the irradiated area. The subjects were 17 pediatric patients (age ≤ 5 years) who received PBT with a treatment field including a muscle on only one side out of a pair of symmetrical bilateral muscles and had imaging evaluations for at least 1 year after PBT.

Tumor Response on Diagnostic Imaging after Proton Beam Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Follow-up after treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be mostly performed using dynamic CT or MRI, but there is no common evaluation method after radiation therapy. The purpose of this study is to examine factors involved in tumor reduction and local recurrence in patients with HCC treated with proton beam therapy (PBT) and to evaluate HCC shrinkage after PBT.

Methods: Cases with only one irradiated lesion or those with two lesions irradiated simultaneously were included in this study.

Distribution of ticks and their possession of spotted fever group Rickettsia in Ibaraki prefecture.

Introduction: Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are a growing threat in Japan. However, distribution of ticks and their possession of human pathogens remain poorly understood.

Methods: In the present study, we collected 3477 ticks at 6 remote, woodland sites in Ibaraki prefecture between May 23 and November 4, 2021, and investigated the distribution and the possession of spotted fever group Rickettia (SFGR).

Effect of intranasal insulin administration on postoperative delirium prevention in elderly cardiac surgery patients: study protocol for a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

Background: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a complication after surgery which leads to worse outcomes. The frequency of this syndrome is increasing as more elderly patients undergo major surgery. The frequency is around 10-25% but reaches as high as 50% for cardiac surgery.

Natto consumption suppresses atherosclerotic plaque progression in LDL receptor-deficient mice transplanted with iRFP-expressing hematopoietic cells.

Natto, known for its high vitamin K content, has been demonstrated to suppress atherosclerosis in large-scale clinical trials through a yet-unknown mechanism. In this study, we used a previously reported mouse model, transplanting the bone marrow of mice expressing infra-red fluorescent protein (iRFP) into LDLR-deficient mice, allowing unique and non-invasive observation of foam cells expressing iRFP in atherosclerotic lesions. Using 3 natto strains, we meticulously examined the effects of varying vitamin K levels on atherosclerosis in these mice.