Increased antidepressant prescriptions following the 2018 Japan floods: a longitudinal analysis using the national health insurance database.

Natural disasters are known to affect the mental health of the victims; however, the understanding of their impact on real-world clinical practice remains insufficient. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the 2018 Japan floods, one of the largest disasters in Japan's recorded history, on antidepressant prescriptions over time. Prescription data from the medical insurance claims database covering three prefectures that accounted for 90% of flood damage were analyzed for the years before and after the floods.

Impact of the 2018 Western Japan Heavy Rain Disaster on Anti-influenza Virus Drug Prescribing: A Longitudinal Analysis Using the National Health Insurance Claims Database.

Objectives: No study has evaluated the relationship between heavy rain disasters and influenza by comparing victims and non-victims, and we investigated the association between the 2018 western Japan heavy rain disaster and influenza.

Methods: All patients registered in the National Health Insurance Claims Database and treated in the Hiroshima, Okayama, and Ehime prefectures were included in this retrospective cohort study conducted 1-year post-disaster. A multivariate mixed-effects logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between the disaster and anti-influenza drug prescribing.

Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia Induced by the Excessive Use of Menthol-containing Nasal Inhalers and Subsequent Acute Hypersensitivity Pneumonia Triggered by Domestic Environmental Antigens: A Case Report.

A 58-year-old Japanese man presented at our hospital with respiratory failure. Computed tomography (CT) revealed scattered fat-attenuated consolidations, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) showed neutrophilia, leading to a diagnosis of exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP) caused by the excessive use of a menthol-containing nasal inhaler. Despite a temporary improvement, the patient experienced recurrent respiratory failure shortly after discharge.

Impact of 2018 Japan floods on allergic rhinitis prescriptions.

Background: Climate change and natural disasters can impact allergic conditions. The 2018 Japan floods, which occurred in July 2018, were among the largest water-related disasters in Japan's history. We aimed to investigate the impact of flooding on prescription rates for allergic rhinitis.

Cross-sectional pilot study of relationships between specific oral bacteria and acute respiratory failure requiring intensive care unit admission.

Objectives: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is a severe condition requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder caused by periodontal bacteria, though it is unknown whether specific periodontal bacteria are associated with ARF patients admitted to the ICU. The present study was conducted to compare oral environmental factors and numbers of specific oral bacteria between patients with and without ARF related to ICU admission.

Changes in the neurological status from 30 to 90 days post-cardiac arrest by age: A nationwide retrospective observational study.

Introduction: Few studies have investigated the changes in the neurological status after 30 days post-arrest in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients according to the patient age. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in the mid-term (from 30 days to 90 days) neurological changes after CA according to the age group.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed the data of all OHCA patients aged ≥1 year who showed return of spontaneous circulation and survived until 30 days after CA.

Serum Soluble Toll-Like Receptor 4 is a Predictive Biomarker for Acute Exacerbation and Prognosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a transmembrane receptor promoting pro-inflammatory signalling, that is associated with the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. TLR4 is abundantly expressed on monocytes and the acceleration of TLR4 signalling induces the secretion of soluble TLR4 isoforms (sTLR4) in circulation. The aim of study was to evaluate the association of serum levels of sTLR4 with acute exacerbation (AE) and prognosis of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Development of a Pharyngeal Residue Level Assessment Index Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) Acoustic Analysis: A Study Protocol.

The swallowing function is often compromised immediately after general anesthesia owing to the effects of anesthetic agents. Consequently, pharyngeal residue may accumulate, which increases the risk of aspiration during the perioperative period. Therefore, we designed a single-arm, open-label study, developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-based acoustic analyzer for quantifying pharyngeal residues and evaluating its efficacy.

Early Rehabilitation Interventions by Physical Therapists for Severe COVID-19 Patients Were Associated With Decreased Incidence of Post-ICU Physical Impairment.

Objective: To implement early rehabilitation interventions by physical therapists is recommended. However, the effectiveness of early rehabilitation for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the prevention of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is unclear. We analyzed a multicenter prospective observational study (Post-Intensive Care outcomeS in patients with COronaVIrus Disease 2019) to examine the association between early rehabilitation interventions and PICS physical impairment.

Two-year trajectory of functional recovery and quality of life in post-intensive care syndrome: a multicenter prospective observational study on mechanically ventilated patients with coronavirus disease-19.

Background: Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) affects the quality of life (QOL) of survivors of critical illness. Although PICS persists for a long time, the longitudinal changes in each component and their interrelationships over time both remain unclear. This multicenter prospective study investigated the 2-year trajectory of PICS and its components as well as factors contributing to deterioration or recovery in mechanically ventilated patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and also attempted to identify possible countermeasures.

Effect Size of Targeted Temperature Management in Pediatric Patients with Post-Cardiac Arrest Syndrome According to the Severity.

Aim: Few studies have investigated the differential effects of targeted temperature management (TTM) according to the severity of the condition in pediatric patients with post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS). This study was aimed at evaluating the differential effects of TTM in pediatric patients with PCAS according to a risk classification tool developed by us, the rCAST.

Methods: We used data from a nationwide prospective registry for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in Japan.

Association between increasing institutional experience with ECPR and outcomes in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A nationwide multicenter observational study in Japan (the JAAM-OHCA registry).

Aim: To determine the association between institutional experience with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) and outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Methods: We analyzed data from the JAAM-OHCA registry, a nationwide multicenter database containing information on patients who experienced OHCA in Japan between June 2014 and December 2020. The study population consisted of patients with OHCA who were in cardiac arrest on hospital arrival and treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Dental Suction Interference and Acoustic Respiratory Monitoring.

Objective: Previous studies have reported that the noise generated by dental equipment can interfere with the auscultation of respiratory sounds during sedation. Therefore, this study aimed to identify whether positing the acoustic sensor on the chest or cervical position would be least susceptible to interference from dental suction device noise, a prominent noise noted during respiratory sound monitoring during dental sedation.

Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted with 30 students.

Resuscitation Attempt and Outcomes in Patients With Asystole Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Importance: Little is known about the epidemiology of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in patients with asystole in countries where prehospital resuscitation is not withheld or terminated.

Objective: To investigate the secular trends in the patient outcomes and advanced life support (ALS) procedures and evaluate the association of ALS procedures with favorable outcomes among patients with OHCA and asystole.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study analyzed data from a nationwide prospective OHCA registry in Japan.

2024 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations: Summary From the Basic Life Support; Advanced Life Support; Pediatric Life Support; Neonatal Life Support; Education, Implementation, and Teams; and First Aid Task Forces.

This is the eighth annual summary of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations; a more comprehensive review was done in 2020. This latest summary addresses the most recent published resuscitation evidence reviewed by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation task force science experts. Members from 6 International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation task forces have assessed, discussed, and debated the quality of the evidence, using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria, and their statements include consensus treatment recommendations.

Serum soluble isoform of receptor for advanced glycation end product is a predictive biomarker for acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a German and Japanese cohort study.

Background: The receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) is a transmembrane receptor accelerating a pro-inflammatory signal. RAGE signalling is promoted by decreased soluble isoform of RAGE (sRAGE), which is a decoy receptor for RAGE ligands, and RAGE SNP rs2070600 minor allele. In Caucasian and Japanese cohorts, low circulatory sRAGE levels and presence of the minor allele are associated with poor survival of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and increased disease susceptibility to interstitial lung disease, respectively.

Increased national critical care demands were associated with a higher mortality of intubated COVID-19 patients in Japan: a retrospective observational study.

Background: There was no study to investigate the association between the national surge of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and the mortality of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study was to assess the association between mortality in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients and two distinct national COVID-19 surge indices: (1) the daily number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, representing overall medical demands and (2) the total number of critically ill COVID-19 patients, reflecting critical care demands.

Methods: We analyzed the patient data registered in a national database of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients between February 6, 2020, and May 16, 2023, combined with the data officially published by the Japanese government.

Identification of novel sub-phenotypes of severe ARDS requiring ECMO using latent class analysis.

Background: Sub-phenotyping of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) could be useful for evaluating the severity of ARDS or predicting its responsiveness to given therapeutic strategies, but no studies have yet investigated the heterogeneity of patients with severe ARDS requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO).

Methods: We conducted this retrospective multicenter observational study in adult patients with severe ARDS treated by V-V ECMO. We performed latent class analysis (LCA) for identifying sub-phenotypes of severe ARDS based on the radiological and clinical findings at the start of ECMO support.

Characteristics of Bleeding Complications in Patients with Severe COVID-19 Requiring Veno-venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Japan.

Complications during veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) are associated with in-hospital mortality. Asian patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) have higher risks of bleeding and in-hospital mortality than Caucasian patients. This study aimed to characterize and identify bleeding complications and their associated factors related to in-hospital mortality in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requiring VV-ECMO in Japan.

Rate of Asthma Prescriptions for Children and Adolescents During the 2018 Floods in Japan.

Background And Objectives: Victims of natural disasters are exposed to air pollution, changes in living conditions, and physical/emotional stress, which leads to exacerbation of asthma. The study aimed to examine the association between being victims of a natural disaster and asthma medication prescriptions among children and adolescents by comparing those affected and unaffected by the 2018 Japan floods.

Methods: Within the most severely impacted regions, a 1-year postdisaster retrospective cohort study was conducted on the basis of the National Health Insurance Claims Database.