Association between polypharmacy and the risk of requiring long-term care among community-dwelling older residents: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Polypharmacy has been increasing attention as it is associated with a number of health problems, especially adverse outcomes in older adults. However, there is insufficient evidence regarding the risk of polypharmacy and long-term care.

Methods: We analyzed a community-based retrospective cohort of residents of Goto City by combining data from health checkups, prescription information, and long-term care needs certification database.

Identification of immune complex antigens that are detected prior to early rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and increase with disease progression: Comprehensive serum immune complexome analysis to identify candidate disease biomarkers in health checkup cohort study.

Although anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide is a biomarker, its contribution to rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis is unknown, and it has not been a therapeutic target to date. As inflammatory pathology is present from an early stage, and increased immune complexes have been suggested to contribute to pathogenesis, we investigated the presence of disease-related antigens that form immune complexes that increase in abundance with disease progression. Using immune complexome analysis, we analyzed immune complex antigen to disease progression for very-early rheumatoid arthritis (n = 52) and early rheumatoid arthritis (n = 19), in comparison with healthy controls (n = 28).

[Development and performance evaluation of a comprehensive genomic profiling assay for hematological malignancies].

Evaluation of genetic alterations is important for diagnosis, treatment selection, and prognostic assessment in hematological malignancies, but no comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) assays for hematological malignancies have been approved for manufacturing and marketing in Japan. We have developed a CGP assay for the analysis of genetic alterations (specifically, mutations, structural variations, and fusion genes) in 452 genes, along with a corresponding analysis and reporting system that runs on Amazon Web Services. This CGP assay, named HemeSight®, successfully detected genetic alterations with an allele frequency of 5-10% in limit of detection testing using non-clinical samples.

Feasibility of the distal transradial approach with an 8-Fr balloon guide catheter for neurointerventional procedures.

ObjectiveThe distal transradial approach (dTRA) may reduce puncture-site complication rates compared with the conventional transradial approach (cTRA). However, the treatment outcomes of dTRA performed with large-bore catheters and the factors associated with procedural success remain unclear. We report the treatment outcomes of neurointerventional therapy performed via dTRA with a sheathless 8-Fr balloon guide catheter (BGC) and identify factors associated with procedural failure.

Risk of Pseudogallstones and Biliary Complications in Rehabilitation Patients Administered Ceftriaxone: A Retrospective Study.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the risk of pseudogallstones and biliary tract infections after ceftriaxone administration in patients undergoing rehabilitation.

Methods And Results: This retrospective observational study was conducted from October 2016 to May 2022. During this period, 41 patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary conditions were transferred from a rehabilitation hospital to an acute care facility.

Refractory Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Caused by Endovascular Invasion of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung: A Case Report.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a systemic intravascular activation of coagulation caused by various underlying conditions. Severe DIC cases could be fatal. We present a 78-year-old Japanese man who developed uncontrollable DIC, finally diagnosed as lung cancer and intravascular invasion along the endothelium of the pulmonary artery, massive pulmonary embolism, and tumor embolism in autopsy.

"Risk factors for early-onset adjacent segment disease at L5-S1 segment after isolated L4-5 lumbar fusion surgery".

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the pre- and postoperative radiological risk factors for L5-S1 adjacent segment disease (ASD) after isolated L4-5 posterior or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF/TLIF) surgeries.

Methods: A total of 152 patients with degenerative lumbar diseases who underwent isolated L4-5 PLIF/TLIF were retrospectively investigated and followed up for at least one year (mean 4.9 years) after surgery.

Association of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) With Hypertension in Older Japanese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study Nested Within the Nagasaki Islands Study (NaIS).

Aim We aimed to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and hypertension in elderly Japanese individuals. Methods This cross-sectional validation study was nested within the Nagasaki Islands Study (NaIS), involving 1,766 community-dwelling participants aged 65 years and older. Height and weight were measured.

Demonstration of autonomous fixed-wing drone delivery of prescribed medications in remote islands in Japan.

Background: In rural areas, physicians and dentists often dispense medications without pharmacists. Technology that can safely and promptly deliver medications is required so that pharmacists, even those at a distance, can dispense them in a timely manner.

Methods: We demonstrated a combination of online medication counseling and drone delivery of medications dispensed by pharmacists in two rural clinics located far from pharmacies on remote islands in Japan.

Frequency of Conversation, Laughter and Other Vocalising Opportunities in Daily Life and Maximum Tongue Pressure: The Goto Longevity Study.

Background: Staying active in daily life is believed to help maintain individuals' oral motor function and prevent oral frailty, a potential risk factor for general health. However, there is limited epidemiological evidence of this association. This study focused on vocalising frequency as an indicator of activeness in daily life.

Longitudinal relationship between atherosclerosis and progression of periodontitis in community-dwelling people in Nagasaki Islands Study.

Few epidemiological studies have explored the longitudinal relationship between atherosclerosis and periodontitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal relationship between atherosclerosis and the progression of periodontitis in community-dwelling individuals in Japan. Progression of periodontitis was defined as the presence of the teeth demonstrating a longitudinal loss of proximal attachment ≥ 3 mm during the study period.

Association between anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody and insufficient sleep in euthyroid population.

Background: Low sleep quality induces inflammation. Because anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) is an autoantibody that induces inflammation in the thyroid, insufficient sleep may stimulate the production of TPO-Ab. However, the thyroid function is also associated with sleep.

Beneficial influence of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on the endothelium in relation to endothelial repair.

Background: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) is regarded as a risk factor for endothelial dysfunction. However, LDLc stimulates the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells (CD34-positive cells), which contribute to endothelial repair. Therefore, LDLc may have a beneficial influence on the endothelium of individuals with lower endothelial repair activity.

Bromocriptine improves glucose tolerance in obese mice via central dopamine D2 receptor-independent mechanism.

Bromocriptine, generally regarded as a dopamine D2 receptor agonist, has been used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes in the USA; however, its mechanisms of action including the receptors that mediate its anti-diabetic effects remain unclear. Therefore, we herein conducted pharmacological and genetic knockout experiments to investigate how bromocriptine improves glucose metabolism under type 2 diabetic conditions. Bromocriptine transiently increased blood glucose levels in both wild-type and dopamine D2 receptor-deficient mice.

Establishment of a Multilocus Sequence Typing Scheme for Using Isolates from Infected Humans and Diseased Companion Animals.

Background: Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is well-established for but remains undeveloped for . We established MLST for using isolates from humans and companion animals in Japan and Korea to gain insights into its population biology.

Methods: We analyzed 39 and 22 isolates from companion animals and humans, respectively.

Dental Deposits Are Differentially Associated With Periodontal Conditions and the Number of Teeth in Japanese Community-Dwelling Individuals: The Nagasaki Islands Study.

Objective: This study aimed to determine how dental deposits are associated with periodontal conditions and the number of teeth in Goto Islands' residents.

Background: Previous studies have shown that dental deposits increase the risk of developing periodontal diseases. However, the relationships between dental deposits and the periodontal/dentitional conditions in a super-aging society remain unclear.

Distinct clinical outcomes based on multiple serum cytokine and chemokine profiles rather than autoantibody profiles and ultrasound findings in rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective ultrasound cohort study.

Objectives: To evaluate the potential of clinical factors, ultrasound findings, serum autoantibodies, and serum cytokine and chemokine profiles as predictors of clinical outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Patients And Methods: We included 200 patients with RA treated with biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in a prospective multicentre ultrasound cohort study. Their serum levels of multiple cytokines and chemokines, rheumatoid factors, and serum autoantibodies (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide-2 (anti-CCP2) and anti-carbamylated protein antibodies) were measured at baseline, 3 months and 12 months.

Re-arthroscopic Findings 18 Years After Osteochondral Autologous Transplantation for Cartilage Lesion in the Knee: A Case Report.

Introduction: Despite the good clinical outcomes of osteochondral autograft transplantation (OAT), reports of re-arthroscopic findings after OAT have been limited to short-term, and there are no reports of findings after long-term follow-up. This is the first report that describes re-arthroscopic findings long-term after OAT.

Case Report: A male patient underwent OAT on the lateral femoral condyle (LFC) of the knee and lateral meniscus (LM) repair at the age of 45.

Refractory and Relapsing Laryngeal Edema Possibly Associated With Chronic Tonsillitis and Mycoplasma Infection, Requiring Reintubation and Tracheostomy.

Relapsing epiglottitis has rarely been reported, and its etiology is not well established. A 44-year-old previously healthy Japanese man presented with a quickly progressing choking sensation. He had been experiencing refractory and relapsing laryngeal edema and probably acute epiglottitis (three episodes within 2 weeks), with rash and elevated pancreatic amylase.

TIM-3 marks measurable residual leukemic stem cells responsible for relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

In this study, we investigated the measurable residual leukemic stem cell (MR-LSC) population after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) for high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML), utilizing T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (TIM-3) expression as a functional marker of AML leukemic stem cells (LSCs). Analysis of the CD34CD38 fraction of bone marrow cells immediately after achievement of engraftment revealed the presence of both TIM-3LSCs and TIM-3 donor hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) at varying ratios. Genetic analysis confirmed that TIM-3 cells harbored patient-specific mutations identical to those found in AML clones, whereas TIM-3 cells did not, indicating that TIM-3CD34CD38 cells represent residual AML LSCs.

Characterization of integrative and conjugative elements carrying erm(B) and tet(O) resistance determinants in streptococcus uberis isolates from bovine milk in Chiba prefecture, Japan: CompArative GEne cluster analysis toolbox with ICEfinder.

Objective: We aimed to characterize integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) in antimicrobial resistant Streptococcs uberis isolates from bovine milk in Chiba, Japan, based on whole-genome sequence (WGS) data.

Results: Of the 101 isolates, we found the 36 isolates harboring erm(B)-tet(O), showing resistance to macrolides-lincosamides-tetracyclines. The 22 isolates were randomly selected and subject to WGS determination.