Task Shifting in Cardiac Catheterization to Sustain Physicians and Acute Coronary Syndrome Response Centers - Findings From the 2024 Japanese Circulation Society Chugoku-Shikoku Regional Survey.

Background: Sustainability of the 24/7 acute coronary syndrome response system is at risk due to the Work Style Reform for physicians.

Methods And Results: A survey of 93 facilities in Chugoku-Shikoku region found that 30% of facilities expected acute coronary syndrome services to be restricted due to the Work Style Reform. Approximately 35% had implemented task shifting, which reduced physicians' workload by 30% and improved team care.

Long-term survival after conversion surgery for an esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma: a case report.

Background: Esophageal neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are extremely rare. Published information on their clinical features, pathological findings, and prognosis is lacking. The optimal treatment for esophageal NECs has not yet been determined because they appear extremely malignant histologically and have a poor prognosis.

Accuracy of robotic arm-assisted versus computed tomography-based navigation in total hip arthroplasty using the direct anterior approach: a retrospective study.

Background: A robotic arm-assisted and a computed tomography (CT)- based navigation system have been reported to improve the accuracy of component positioning in total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, no study has compared robotic arm-assisted THA (rTHA) to CT-based navigated THA (nTHA) concerning accuracy of cup placement and acetabular fractures using the direct anterior approach (DAA). This study aimed to compare the accuracy of cup placement and the presence of intraoperative acetabular fractures between rTHA and nTHA using DAA in the supine position.

[Tumefactive Demyelinating Lesions].

Tumefactive demyelinating lesions (TDL), defined as inflammatory demyelinating lesions, may develop either during treatment for multiple sclerosis and related disorders or as the first demyelinating episode without any past medical history suggesting demyelination. If the latter, it would be so delicate to diagnose as demyelination. Especially in such situations, biopsy is often necessary in addition to neuroimaging for distinction TDL with tumorous or infectious diseases.

Multicenter prospective observational study to clarify the current status and clinical outcome in Japanese patients who have an indication for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) (TRANSITION JAPAN-ICD/WCD study): Rationale and design of a prospective, multicenter, observational, comparative study.

Background: Despite the positive impact of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and wearable cardioverter defibrillators (WCDs) on prognosis, their implantation is often withheld especially in Japanese heart failure patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) who have not experienced ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) for uncertain reasons. Recent advancements in heart failure (HF) medications have significantly improved the prognosis for HFrEF. Given this context, a critical reassessment of the treatment and prognosis of ICDs and WCDs is essential, as it has the potential to reshape awareness and treatment strategies for these patients.

Ultrasound and computed tomography findings of hepatic portal venous gas associated with acute appendicitis in a paediatric patient: A case report.

Introduction: Hepatic portal venous gas is a rare and life-threatening condition characterised by the presence of gas in the portal vein. Hepatic portal venous gas is frequently associated with intestinal ischaemia and necrosis. We present the case of a paediatric patient with acute appendicitis with hepatic portal venous gas detected using ultrasonography.

Respiratory function testing for guiding ventilator mode conversion in congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Introduction: For patients with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) are used in initial ventilatory management. HFOV has recently been recommended as a rescue therapy; however, we use HFOV for initial ventilation management, with a preoperative challenge test for CMV conversion and respiratory function testing at the time of CMV conversion. We aimed to compare patient characteristics between CMV conversion- and HFOV-preferred treatment groups.

Aggressive surgery for incisional hernia with necrotizing soft tissue infection highlighting unique abdominal findings.

Background: Surgery for incisional hernias with obesity can be more challenging because obesity is associated with perioperative complications. Necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) is a life-threatening condition that requires aggressive surgical management. Few incisional hernias with NSTI have been reported, and the optimal strategy is undetermined.

Radical surgery for intractable thoracic empyema complicating traumatic pneumothorax and rib fractures.

Background: Few cases of traumatic pneumothorax complicated by thoracic empyema have been reported. The indication of antibiotic prophylaxis administration for traumatic pneumothorax during tube thoracostomy remains controversial, and thoracic injury complicated by empyema can be life-threatening and intractable.

Case Presentation: A 42-year-old male patient was injured during a collision with a passenger car while driving a motorcycle.

Comparison of simultaneous versus staged bilateral total hip arthroplasty via the direct anterior approach: A propensity score matched analysis.

Purpose: It remains unclear whether simultaneous bilateral total hip arthroplasty (SimBTHA) or staged bilateral total hip arthroplasty (StaBTHA) is clinically superior. No study has compared these two procedures matching surgical approach and patient background. This study aimed to clarify the differences between SimBTHA using direct anterior approach (SimBTHA-DAA) and StaBTHA using the direct anterior approach (StaBTHA-DAA).

The impact of geriatric nutritional risk index on one-year outcomes in hospitalized elderly patients with heart failure.

Background: Strategies that accurately predict outcomes in elderly heart failure (HF) patients have not been sufficiently established. In previous reports, nutritional status, ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL), and lower limb muscle strength are known prognostic factors associated with cardiac rehabilitation (CR). In the present study, we investigated which CR factors can accurately predict one-year outcomes in elderly patients with HF among the above factors.

One Year Outcomes of Zilver PTX Versus Eluvia for Femoropopliteal Disease in Real-World Practice: REALDES Study.

Purpose: This multicenter, prospective, observational study aimed to compare Zilver PTX and Eluvia stents in real-world settings for treating femoropopliteal lesions as the differences in the 1-year outcomes of these stents have not been elucidated.

Materials And Methods: Overall, 200 limbs with native femoropopliteal artery disease were treated with Zilver PTX (96 limbs) or Eluvia (104 limbs) at 8 Japanese hospitals between February 2019 and September 2020. The primary outcome measure of this study was primary patency at 12 months, defined as a peak systolic velocity ratio of ≤2.

[Coronary Artery-Left Atrial Fistula Complicated by a Left Atrial Myxoma:Report of a Case].

We report our experience with a case of a left atrial mass coexisting with a coronary artery-left atrial fistula. The abnormal vessels extended from the right coronary artery and left circumflex artery to the tumor in the left atrium and were aggregated within the tumor. An efflux of the contrast media was also noted from the tumor into the left atrium.

Interleukin-33 and Soluble ST2 Levels in Infants with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy.

Introduction: Interleukin (IL)-33 and its receptor ST2L play key roles in the IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway. Soluble ST2 (sST2) inhibits the proper function of IL-33. sST2 levels are increased in patients with several neurological diseases, but in infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), IL-33 and sST2 levels have not been studied.

The detailed obstetric course of the first Japanese patient with AEBP1-related Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (classical-like EDS, type 2).

We reported a detailed obstetric course of a Japanese patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the AEBP1 gene. She was diagnosed with classical EDS at 3 years of age. At 33 years, whole-exome sequencing revealed a homozygous nonsense variant (c.

Comparing postoperative outcomes of two fully hydroxyapatite-coated collarless stems in total hip arthroplasty through propensity score matching analysis with 2 years follow-up.

A fully hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated stem such as Corail stem, that compacts the cancellous bone around the stem in total hip arthroplasty (THA), is reported to have good long-term results for more than 20 years. Although various fully HA-coated stems have being used recently, it is unclear whether there are differences in the postoperative outcomes. In this study, 224 patients (234 hips) with THA using either the Corail collarless stem or the Hydra stem were enrolled.

[Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome and Associated Encephalopathy].

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV). Approximately 80 patients are infected annually, mainly in western Japan, and the case fatality rate is >20%. The clinical presentation of SFTS typically includes fever, thrombocytopenia, leukocytopenia, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Intralesional steroid infusion using a spray tube to prevent stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection of esophageal cancer.

Background/aims: Intralesional steroid injections have been administered as prophylaxis for stenosis after esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection. However, this method carries a risk of potential complications such as perforation because a fine needle is used to directly puncture the postoperative ulcer. We devised a new method of steroid intralesional infusion using a spray tube and evaluated its efficacy and safety.