Legacy of pre-eruption vegetation affects ground-dwelling arthropod communities after different types of volcanic disturbance.

Volcanic eruptions are one of the largest natural disturbances and are followed by the establishment of novel plant and animal communities in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the role of pre-eruption vegetation in the establishment of arthropod communities after volcanic disturbances is currently unknown. Here, we asked whether the legacy of pre-eruption vegetation mediates the community structure of ground-dwelling arthropods after volcanic disturbances.

Primary care physicians' narratives on COVID-19 responses in Japan: Professional roles evoked under a pandemic.

Background: Within the vague system of primary care and COVID-19 infection control in Japan, we explored how primary care (PC) physicians exhibited adaptive performance in their institutions and communities to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic from January to May 2020.

Methods: Narrative analysis conducted by a team of medical professionals and anthropologists. We purposefully selected 10 PC physicians in community-based hospitals and clinics and conducted a total of 17 individual and group interviews.

Development of the Japanese version of the Intensive Care Unit Trigger Tool to detect adverse events in critically ill patients.

Aim: The Intensive Care Unit Trigger Tool (ICUTT) was developed to detect adverse events (AEs) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the ICUTT (ICUTT-J).

Methods: The translation of ICUTT was carried out based on the guideline for translation of instruments.

Giant hepatic cyst causing lower extremity edema and scoliosis.

Hepatic cysts usually do not cause symptoms and may be detected incidentally on abdominal imaging. However, a giant hepatic cyst can rarely compress the inferior vena cava, right lung, and spine, leading to edema of lower extremities and scoliosis.

Surgical mask use by healthcare personnel to prevent COVID-19 spread in a long-term care facility.

Long-term care facilities are a recognized high-risk setting for severe outcomes during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. This study describes a COVID-19 outbreak in a long-term care facility in Japan. The index case was a nurse who wore a surgical mask and used standard precautions.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Super-Elderly Patients (Aged ≥90 Years) Hospitalized for Heart Failure - Analysis of a Nationwide Inpatient Database.

Although the aged population is increasing in developed countries, clinical evidence on super-elderly heart failure (HF) patients is scarce. This study determined the characteristics and outcomes of Japanese hospitalized super-elderly HF patients (aged ≥90 years) using a nationwide inpatient database. A comprehensive analysis was performed of 447,818 HF patients in the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database who were hospitalized and discharged between January 2010 and March 2018.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation and Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis in Japan - Analysis of a Nationwide Inpatient Database.

Nationwide data on transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in Japan are scarce. Using a nationwide inpatient database, we analyzed patients undergoing TAVI (n=8,338) or SAVR (n=16,298) due to aortic stenosis between 2014 and 2017. The annual number of TAVI increased rapidly from 2014 to 2017, particularly in older patients.

Reassessment of practical usage and accumulation of real-world data of wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) in Japan-Design paper for J-WCDR study.

Although implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are a powerful preventive therapy for cardiac sudden death, there are some populations in whom ICDs cannot be applied because of a lack of a definitive indication (grey-zone patients), such as in patients during the acute phase of cardiac injury with a susceptible risk for lethal arrhythmias. In such patients, wearable cardioverter defibrillators (WCDs) provide safer bridging period during the acute phase until the final decision-making for the ICD use and it may eliminate any inappropriate overuse of ICDs in the subacute phase. The JCS/JHRS practical guidelines provide the criteria for WCD use in Japan.

Impact of a poor functional capacity on the clinical outcomes in patients with a pacemaker implantation -Results from the Japanese Heart Rhythm Society Registry.

Background: Functional capacity (FC) correlates with mortality in various cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to examine whether cardiac pacemaker implantations improve the FC and affect the prognosis.

Methods And Results: We prospectively enrolled 621 de novo pacemaker recipients (age 76 ± 9 years, 50.

Current status and role of programmed ventricular stimulation in patients without sustained ventricular arrhythmias and reduced ejection fraction: Analysis of the Japan cardiac device treatment registry database.

Background: The aim of this study was to clarify the current status and role of programmed ventricular stimulation in patients without sustained ventricular arrhythmias and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods: The follow-up data of the Japan cardiac device treatment registry (JCDTR) was analyzed in 746 patients with LVEF ≦35% and no prior history of sustained ventricular arrhythmias who underwent de novo implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator (CRT-D) implantation between January 2011 and August 2015.

Results: Electrophysiological study (EPS) with programmed ventricular stimulation had been performed before the device implant in 118 patients (15.

Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment for fulminant Clostridium difficile infection.

In fulminant Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), early diagnosis is important, and early diagnosis could save fulminant CDI patients that do not qualify for surgery due to severe complicating conditions by conservative antibiotic therapy.

Statement for electrophysiological procedures under the COVID-19 pandemic from the Japanese heart rhythm society task force.

COVID-19 is a global catastrophe with markedly reduced health and economy of human civilization. Heart rhythm disorder has also been impacted by this disease. This statement is the universal criteria for EP procedures in the new era, which we will face during COVID-19 pandemic.

The Japanese Catheter Ablation Registry (J-AB): A prospective nationwide multicenter registry in Japan. Annual report in 2018.

Background: To analyze the type of ablation procedure, acute outcomes, and complications related to catheter ablation in Japan during the year of 2018.

Method: The Japanese Catheter Ablation (J-AB) registry is a voluntary, nationwide, multicenter, prospective, observational registry, performed by the Japanese Heart Rhythm Society (JHRS) in collaboration with the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center using a Research Electronic Data Capture system. The procedural outcome and complications during hospitalizations were collected.

Screening for chronic kidney disease over hospital integration.

Hospital integration among rural districts to concentrate medical resources is one of the main projects of the Japanese government. In advance of this, we experienced hospital integration and screening for chronic kidney disease as definitive risk for end-stage kidney disease and cardiovascular mortality. After that, high-risk patients have been appropriately referred from generalists to nephrologists and/or cardiologists without acute deterioration of renal function or cardiac sudden death.

Physicians' prediction for the assessment of atypical pathogens in respiratory tract infections.

Background: Patients with acute respiratory tract infections are frequently prescribed antimicrobials despite high rates of virus detection. Physicians may overprescribe antimicrobials owing to the concern of bacterial infections, including those because of atypical pathogens. We investigated the accuracy of clinical predictions concerning atypical pathogen infections.

Platelets Stimulate Liver Regeneration in a Rat Model of Partial Liver Transplantation.

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is sometimes associated with impaired regeneration and severe ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in the graft, resulting in small-for-size syndrome (SFSS). Platelets were previously reported to stimulate liver regeneration in models of hepatectomy, but the evidence in partial liver transplantation (LT) is lacking. In this study, a rat model of partial LT was used, and the impact of thrombopoietin (TPO)-induced perioperative thrombocytosis on graft regeneration, IRI, and survival was investigated.

Study Design of the Nationwide Japanese Lead Extraction (J-LEX) Registry: Protocol for a Prospective, Multicenter, Open Registry.

Background: Transvenous lead extractions (TLEs) in Japan have grown to become the standard therapy since the approval of the laser extraction system in 2008. However, little is known about the current indications, methods, success rate, and acute complications in the real-world setting.

Methods: The Japanese Lead EXtraction (J-LEX) registry is a nationwide, multicenter, observational registry, performed by the Japanese Heart Rhythm Society (JHRS) in collaboration with the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center.

Modeling Transition Metals in East Asia and Japan and Its Emission Sources.

Emission inventories of anthropogenic transition metals, which contribute to aerosol oxidative potential (OP), in Asia (Δ = 0.25°, monthly, 2000-2008) and Japan (Δ = 2 km, hourly, mainly 2012) were developed, based on bottom-up inventories of particulate matters and metal profiles in a speciation database for particulate matters. The new inventories are named Transition Metal Inventory (TMI)-Asia v1.

Trends in the use of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy device in advancing age: Analysis of the Japan cardiac device treatment registry database.

Background: Trends of de novo implantation of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) including implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator (CRT-D) or pacemaker (CRT-P) in advancing age are unknown.

Methods: Analysis of data from the Japan cardiac device treatment registry (JCDTR) with an implantation date between January 2006 and December 2016 was performed focusing on advancing age of ≧75 years.

Results: The cohort included 17 564 ICD, 9470 CRT-D and 1087 CRT-P recipients for de novo implantation.

Laparoscopy-assisted vasovasostomy for post-herniorrhaphy vas deferens obstruction.

Introduction: Repair of obstructive azoospermia caused by childhood herniorrhaphy may be difficult. Therefore, intracytoplasmic sperm injection using testicular sperm is performed. However, vasovasostomy combined with laparoscopic surgery is challenging.

Light-guided renal cyst fenestration during laparoscopic ureterocalicostomy in a patient with left ureteropelvic junction obstruction.

Introduction: Laparoscopic ureterocalicostomy is a useful alternative to laparoscopic pyeloplasty for treating ureteropelvic junction obstruction under certain conditions. One concern regarding this technique is the inevitability of amputation of the renal lower pole to expose the lower renal calyx.

Case Presentation: A 43-year-old man who presented ureteropelvic junction obstruction and multiple renal cysts underwent laparoscopic pyeloplasty, which could not be performed because of the intrarenal ureteropelvic junction.

Association between fluid overload and delirium/coma in mechanically ventilated patients.

Aim: Several studies have shown an association between fluid overload (FO) and mortality or duration of mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients. However, the association between FO and delirium duration remains unclear.

Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study was undertaken at University of Tsukuba Hospital (Tsukuba, Japan) from April 2015 to March 2017.

Environmentally triggered variability in the genetic variance-covariance of herbivory resistance of an exotic plant .

The variability in the genetic variance-covariance (G-matrix) in plant resistance and its role in the evolution of invasive plants have been long overlooked. We conducted an additional analysis of the data of a reciprocal transplant experiment with tall goldenrod, , in multiple garden sites within its native range (USA) and introduced range (Japan). We explored the differences in G-matrix of resistance to two types of foliar herbivores: (a) a lace bug that is native to the USA and recently introduced to Japan, (b) and other herbivorous insects in response to plant origins and environments.