Investigating the Effectiveness of an Enhanced Coin-Shaped Lithium Battery With Titanium Coating in Reducing Esophageal Damage From Accidental Ingestion in Living Piglets.

Background Accidental ingestion of coin-shaped lithium batteries (CSLBs) poses a serious health risk, leading to severe esophageal injuries and fatal complications. Conventional CSLBs cause rapid tissue damage due to electrochemical reactions, necessitating the development of safer battery designs. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an improved CSLB with a titanium-clad design to reduce electrochemical reactions and delay esophageal tissue damage in cases of accidental ingestion.

Effects of Oral Care in Terminal Cancer Patients Shortly Before Death.

Objective: We aimed to examine the effects of oral care in patients with terminal cancer approaching death.

Background: Patients with terminal-stage cancer often experience symptoms like oral dryness and candidiasis. Previous studies showed that without professional dental care, oral hygiene significantly worsens within 3 weeks before death.

Oral care for intubated patients in the intensive care unit: examination of bacterial count and microbiota.

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) after tracheal intubation is a major infectious complication in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), with an incidence of 8-28%. Oral care in the ICU is essential; however, the presence of an intubation tube and restricted mouth opening cause complications. A healthy commensal microflora in the oral cavity resists colonization by respiratory pathogens, and poor oral hygiene may increase the risk for VAP.

Histopathological Analysis of Esophageal Damage Caused by Coin-Shaped Lithium Batteries in Living Piglets.

Background: More than 3,000 cases of accidental ingestion of coin-shaped lithium batteries (CSLBs) have been reported in the United States. Battery ingestion can cause serious injury and even death. Prior reports have indicated that complications often occur two or more hours after ingestion.

Clinical Insights Into Pediatric Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasms of the Pancreas.

Background: Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) of the pancreas are rare tumors with low malignant potential that usually occur in young girls and women. This study investigated the treatment experiences and outcomes after surgery for pediatric SPNs in our institutions as pediatric case series of solid SPNs are few, and long-term follow-up is also limited.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of nine patients diagnosed with SPNs who underwent surgery in our three hospitals (The Jikei University Hospital, The Jikei University Kashiwa Hospital, and Kawaguchi Municipal Medical Center) between 2001 and 2023.

Impact of Hospital Dentistry on Patients' Food Intake Status in Convalescent Rehabilitation Ward.

Background: Treating oral problems with dentist intervention during hospitalisation may improve patients' food intake status.

Objectives: This study aimed to clarify whether convalescent rehabilitation ward inpatients in a hospital with hospital dentistry (HHD) had a better diet at discharge than those in a hospital without hospital dentistry (HNHD).

Methods: Retrospective observational study including inpatients with dental involvement in a HHD with dentists and dental hygienists and HNHD with dental hygienist and visiting dental service between 1 March and 31 August 2022.

Changes in oral health status in terminal cancer patients during the last weeks of life.

Background: Many studies have shown deterioration of the oral health environment in palliative care patients; however, most of these studies are cross-sectional. In this longitudinal observational study, we aimed to determine the oral symptoms and how they change in palliative care patients.

Methods: The participants were 82 patients (37 men, 45 women) admitted to two palliative care units in Japan between January 2018 and December 2021.

The Comparison of Postoperative Umbilical Port Site-Related Complications Between Transumbilical and Periumbilical Incision After Laparoscopic Surgery in Children.

No studies have directly compared postoperative umbilical port site (UPS)-related complications between transumbilical and periumbilical incisions (TUI and PUI) after laparoscopic surgery in children. We conducted a retrospective review of 324 children of ≤15 years of age who underwent laparoscopic repair (LR) for inguinal hernia, via either a TUI or PUI, between 2010 and 2020. UPS-related complications, such as wound infection and umbilical deformity, were compared between TUI and PUI.

Increase in pediatric complicated appendicitis during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-center retrospective study.

Purpose: An increase in the incidence of pediatric complicated appendicitis (CA) during the COVID-19 pandemic has been reported in many countries. We investigated how the pandemic has affected Japan.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed children of ≤ 15 years old treated for acute appendicitis across 5 medical centers during the pandemic period (January to October in 2020), with the pre-pandemic period (January to October in 2017 to 2019) evaluated as a historical control.

Risks and benefits of pediatric inguinal hernia repair: Conventional open repair vs laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure.

Introduction: Considerable debate exists regarding the benefits of laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (LPEC) over conventional open repair (OR). We assessed the outcomes and feasibility of LPEC compared to OR for pediatric inguinal hernia (IH).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 570 children who underwent LPEC or OR.

Effect of morphological findings in computed tomography on the quantitative values in single-photon emission computed tomography for patients with antiresorptive agent-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Quantitative analyses of gamma-ray accumulation in single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and the evaluation of antiresorptive agent-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ARONJ) have been reported recently. However, the relationship between the quantitative parameters calculated from SPECT and the detailed morphological changes observed in computed tomography (CT) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate patients' characteristics and morphological changes observed on CT, and their effects on the quantitative values in SPECT.

Evaluation of Velopharyngeal Closure Function With 4-Dimensional Computed Tomography and Assessment of Radiation Exposure in Pediatric Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Some patients with cleft palate (CP) need secondary surgery to improve functionality. Although 4-dimensional assessment of velopharyngeal closure function (VPF) in patients with CP using computed tomography (CT) has been existed, the knowledge about quantitative evaluation and radiation exposure dose is limited. We performed a qualitative and quantitative assessment of VPF using CT and estimated the exposure doses.

Velopharyngeal closure analysis using four-dimensional computed tomography: a pilot study of healthy volunteers and adult patients with cleft palate.

Background: Nasopharyngoscopy is a common method to evaluate velopharyngeal closure in patients with cleft palate. However, insertion of a fiberoptic nasopharyngoscope causes discomfort in patients. The aim of this study was to estimate the reliability of short-time exposure images obtained using 320-row area detector computed tomography (320-ADCT) as a novel evaluation method for the assessment of velopharyngeal function.

Thalidomide potentiates etoposide-induced apoptosis in murine neuroblastoma through suppression of NF-κB activation.

Purpose: Treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma is still challenging. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether thalidomide suppresses etoposide-induced NF-κB activation and thus potentiates apoptosis in murine neuroblastoma.

Methods: A murine neuroblastoma cell line, C1300, and A/J mice were used in this study.

Measurement of Pharyngo-laryngeal Volume During Swallowing Using 320-Row Area Detector Computed Tomography.

This study aimed to (1) evaluate changes in bolus and air volumes in the pharyngo-laryngeal cavity during swallowing and (2) determine how differences in these volumes during swallowing are influenced by bolus amount using 320-row area detector computed tomography (320-ADCT). Three-, 10-, and 20-ml honey-thick liquids (5% w/v) were presented to ten healthy subjects placed in a 45° reclining position. 3D images were created in 29 phases at an interval of 0.

Isolated pharyngeal swallow exists during normal human feeding.

Swallowing is one of the basic activities in humans. The pharynx functions as an airway and a food channel, and a pharyngeal swallow usually occurs after bolus transport from the oral cavity. However, direct fluid infusion through a catheter into the hypopharynx produces a pharyngeal swallow without the oral stage in experimental situations.

Does oral care contribute to brain activation?: One case of functional near-infrared spectroscopy study in patients with a persistent disturbance of consciousness.

We used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure cerebral blood flow during oral care in a patient with persistent disturbance of consciousness. We experienced that cerebral blood flow to frontal area increased during oral care, suggesting that oral care may have a potential role in rehabilitation for the brain.

Classification of sequential swallowing types using videoendoscopy with high reproducibility and reliability.

Objective: This study aimed to classify sequential swallowing types using videoendoscopy (VE) avoiding radiation exposure and compare the results using videofluoroscopy (VF).

Design: Twenty-one healthy adults simultaneously underwent VF and VE during sequential straw drinking. Each discrete swallow was classified into an L-segmental type (laryngeal vestibule opens after swallow) or L-continuous type (laryngeal vestibule closure continues after swallow) using VF and a V-segmental type (velopharynx opens after swallow) or V-continuous type (velopharynx closure continues after swallow) using VE.

Effective elimination of contaminants after oral care in elderly institutionalized individuals.

After mechanical cleaning in oral care, eliminating residual oral contaminants has an important role in preventing their aspiration, especially in individuals with weak airway protection. We examined the effectiveness of wiping the oral cavity after oral care on eliminating contaminants in 31 patients who were hospitalized in our neurology inpatient unit. The amount of bacteria on the tongue, palate, and buccal vestibule was counted before and just after oral care, after eliminating contaminants either by rinsing with water and suction or by wiping with mouth wipes, and 1 h after oral care.

Laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure for inguinal hernia: learning curve for attending surgeons and residents.

Background/purpose: Laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (LPEC) for pediatric inguinal hernia is a simple technique in which a purse-string suture made of nonabsorbable material is placed extraperitoneally around the hernia orifice by a special suture needle (Lapaherclosure™). Concerns have been raised about the extensive learning curve for both attending surgeons and residents to master this technique. This study assesses the difference in learning curves for the safe performance of LPEC by attending surgeons and residents.

Changes in pyriform sinus morphology in the head rotated position as assessed by 320-row area detector CT.

In patients with unilateral pharyngeal paresis and dysphagia, the head is rotated to the paretic side to prevent food flow to the rotated side during swallowing. Only a few studies to date have reported on pyriform sinus morphology upon head rotation. The purpose of this study was to measure the volume, depth, and cross-sectional area of the pyriform sinus during head rotation using 320-row area detector computed tomography.

Evaluation of swallowing using 320-detector-row multislice CT. Part II: kinematic analysis of laryngeal closure during normal swallowing.

The purpose of this study was to (1) depict normal dynamic swallowing and (2) measure (a) the temporal characteristics of three components of laryngeal closure, i.e., true vocal cord (TVC) closure, closure of the laryngeal vestibule at the arytenoid to epiglottic base, and epiglottic inversion, and (b) the temporal relationship between these levels of laryngeal closure and other swallowing events, hyoid elevation, and the pharyngoesophageal segment (PES) using 320-detector-row multislice computed tomography (320-MSCT).