Pulmonary Cryptococcosis With Rapid Growth on Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography.

A 64-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis and asthma developed a rapid growth and uptake of F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid lung nodule. Despite suspicion of malignancy, the biopsy confirmed pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC). Regardless of FDG uptake, PC should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Six-month outcomes of half-fluence photodynamic therapy combined with intravitreal Aflibercept injection for pachychoroid neovasculopathy.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the six-month outcomes of patients with pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV) treated with half-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) along with a single intravitreal aflibercept injection (IVA) and to identify factors linked to persistent or recurrent subretinal fluid (SRF).

Methods: This retrospective study included consecutive treatment-naïve PNV patients who received initial treatment with IVA and half-fluence PDT and were followed up for more than six months. Patient data, including sex, age, and baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and imaging data, including optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography, and fundus autofluorescence (FAF), were retrospectively collected.

Switching to faricimab alleviates persistent subretinal fluid and pigment epithelial detachment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To evaluate structural outcomes, including subretinal fluid (SRF) and fibrovascular pigment epithelial detachment (fvPED) volume changes, after switching from aflibercept 2 mg to faricimab in Japanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Study Design: Retrospective, observational study.

Methods: Patients with nAMD who were switched from aflibercept 2 mg to faricimab were enrolled.

Liposome Encapsulation Enhances Ripasudil Therapeutic Efficacy Against Proliferative Vitreoretinal Diseases: Implications in Advanced Ocular Treatment.

Purpose: Proliferative vitreoretinal diseases, such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), pose substantial challenges in their advanced stages owing to the development of retinal fibrous membranes. Current therapeutic modalities, including surgical interventions for PVR and antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy for nAMD, cannot effectively manage intraocular fibrosis associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Through drug screening, we identified ripasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, as a remarkable suppressor of RPE-EMT.

Risk factors for drug-resistant pathogens in community-acquired pneumonia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Reducing inappropriate and excessive use of extended-spectrum antibiotics is essential for treating CAP effectively. Evaluating the risk of drug-resistant pathogens (DRPs) is crucial for determining initial antibiotic therapy in clinical settings.

Two-year treatment outcomes after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in age-related macular degeneration with type 2 macular neovascularization in Japanese patients.

Purpose: Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with type 2 macular neovascularization (MNV) has a relatively good responsiveness to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy compared to type 1 MNV. This study aimed to analyze the treatment outcomes of nAMD patients with type 2 MNV and identify factors associated with fluid recurrence.

Study Design: Retrospective observational study.

Five-year Outcome of Aflibercept Administration with "Treat and Extend" for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of aflibercept treatment using a treat-and-extend (TAE) regimen over up to 5 years in Japanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study included 126 consecutive treatment-naïve nAMD patients (126 eyes) who received at least three monthly intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) injections as a loading phase, followed by a treat-and-extend (TAE) regimen with follow-up for 5 years. Injection intervals were adjusted every 2 weeks and could be extended up to 16 weeks based on macular condition.

Fluid Aspiration From Intraretinal Cysts for Refractory Diabetic Macular Edema.

Purpose: To report the surgical outcome of fluid aspiration in intraretinal cysts as a novel treatment approach for the refractory cystoid macular edema associated with diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: This retrospective consecutive case series examined eight patients with refractory cystoid macular edema who underwent intraretinal cyst fluid aspiration using a 38-gauge subretinal infusion needle during pars plana vitrectomy. This study reviewed changes in central retinal thickness, best-corrected visual acuity, and central sensitivity among patients followed up for 12 months postsurgery.

Lamp2 Deficiency Enhances Susceptibility to Oxidative Stress-Induced RPE Degeneration.

Purpose: Autophagy and lysosomal degradation are vital processes that protect cells from oxidative stress. This study investigated the role of lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 (Lamp2), a lysosomal protein essential for autophagosome maturation and lysosome biogenesis, in maintaining retinal health under oxidative stress.

Methods: To induce oxidative stress, young Lamp2 knockout (KO) and wild-type mice received an intravenous injection of a low dose (10 mg/kg) of sodium iodate (NaIO3).

High Altitude Pulmonary Edema Associated with Climbing Mount Fuji.

A 51-year-old man presented to the emergency department with rapidly progressive dyspnea that developed while climbing Mount Fuji. He had climbed Mount Fuji twice without experiencing similar symptoms. On arrival, his oxygen saturation was 91% on 10 L/min of oxygen with a non-rebreather mask.

Altered fatty acid distribution in lysosome-associated membrane protein-2 deficient mice.

Lysosome-associated membrane protein-2 (LAMP2) deficiency causes the human Danon disease and represents a lysosomal dysfunction because of its pivotal role in regulating autophagy and lysosome biogenesis. LAMP2-deficient mice exhibit a spectrum of phenotypes, including cardioskeletal myopathy, mental retardation, and retinopathy, similar to those observed in patients with Danon disease. Its pathology is thought to involve altered energy metabolism and lipid dysregulation; however, the lipidomic profiles of LAMP2-deficient animals have not been investigated.

Postoperative Proliferation Detection in Eyes Treated for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment by WideField OCT Angiography.

Purpose: Proliferative retinal changes may occur postsurgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), possibly preceding recurrent detachment. This study aims to establish the groundwork for an imaging system capable of discerning changes in retinal vessel tortuosity after RRD repair, analyzing widefield optical coherence tomography angiography (WF-OCTA) images.

Methods: Eighty-eight eyes of 86 patients with RRD who underwent surgical procedures and had repeated imaging with clear widefield optical coherence tomography (WF-OCT) and WF-OCTA on different postoperative days were enrolled in this retrospective study.

Three-month outcomes of treatment with faricimab or aflibercept for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a propensity score matching study in a Japanese population.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the treatment outcomes of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) who initially received faricimab or aflibercept treatment using propensity score matching (PSM) to align patient backgrounds.

Methods: Patients with treatment-naïve nAMD who received either faricimab or aflibercept for three consecutive monthly injections as the loading phase were enrolled in this study. In the 1:1 PSM, sex, age, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), central choroidal thickness (CCT), and AMD subtypes in the pre-treatment state were selected as covariates.

The factors associated with retinal pigment epithelium tear development in the early phase after treatment initiation for age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tear development in the early phase after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drug initiation in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and retinal pigment epithelial detachment (PED).

Methods: Treatment-naive eyes with nAMD and PED for which anti-VEGF drug injections had been initiated and followed up for at least 3 months after the 1st anti-VEGF drug injection, were retrospectively investigated. Baseline characteristics of the PEDs, including type, height, and area, were evaluated using fundus photographs, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography images.

Risk factors for interstitial lung disease in patients with non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The use of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) can potentially result in interstitial lung disease (ILD), which can substantially impact a patient's quality of life, subsequently leading to the interruption or discontinuation of EGRF-TKI treatment. Clinicians, therefore, need to thoroughly assess patients to determine if they are at risk for ILD.

Methods: We searched for observational study in the following databases: MEDLINE via the PubMed, CENTRAL, and IchushiWeb.

Wide-Field Choroidal Thickness Analysis after Half-Fluence Photodynamic Therapy Combined with Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection in Pachychoroid Neovasculopathy.

: Pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV) is a pachychoroid-spectrum disease. As blood circulation throughout the choroid may be involved in PNV pathogenesis, analysis using ultra-wide-field (UWF) fundus imaging is crucial. We evaluated choroidal thickness after half-fluence photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with intravitreal aflibercept injection for PNV using UWF swept-source optical coherence tomography.

Portal Vein Thrombosis With Hypoplasia in the Left Lobe of the Liver: A Case Report.

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is an acute-onset, emergent thrombotic disease that is difficult to diagnose without an apparent underlying disease unless the clinician actively suspects its presence. We present a case of acute PVT with underlying left lobe hypoplasia of the liver, a previously undescribed condition. A 79-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with the chief complaint of anorexia.

Efficacy and safety of macrolide therapy for adult asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The evidence for macrolide therapy in adult asthma is not properly established and remains controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the efficacy and safety of macrolide therapy for adult asthma.

Methods: We searched randomized controlled trials from MEDLINE via the PubMed, CENTRAL, and Ichushi Web databases.

Clinical inertia in asthma.

Despite advances in pharmaceutical treatment in recent years, a relatively high proportion of patients with asthma do not have adequate asthma control, causing chronic disability, poor quality of life, and multiple emergency department visits and hospitalizations. A multifaceted approach is needed to overcome the problems with managing asthma, and clinical inertia (CI) is a crucial concept to assist with this approach. It divides clinical inertia into three main categories, which include healthcare provider-related, patient-related, and healthcare system-related CI.