Burden of depressive disorders in Vietnam from 1990 to 2019: A secondary analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Depressive disorders are among the leading causes of disability globally. However, information on the burden of depressive disorders in Vietnam is limited. We aimed to analyse the burden of depressive disorders in Vietnam from 1990 to 2019. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were used as indicators to analyse the burden of depressive disorders by age and sex. In 2019 in Vietnam, depressive disorders comprised 2629.1 thousand (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 2233.3-3155.9) estimated cases and 380.6 thousand (95% UI: 258.9-533.8) estimated DALYs. The crude prevalence rate of depressive disorders was higher among females than among males. The DALYs of depressive disorder accounted for a higher percentage of the total all-cause DALYs in the 10-64-year age group than in other age groups. Major depressive disorder was the largest contributor to the burden of depressive disorders. From 1990 to 2019, the crude prevalence and DALY rates per 100 000 population due to depressive disorders increased significantly, whereas age-standardised rates of prevalence and DALYs decreased significantly; the respective average annual percent changes were 0.88% (95% confidence interval: 0.87 to 0.89), 0.68% (0.66 to 0.70), -0.20% (-0.21 to -0.19), and -0.27% (-0.28 to -0.25). Although the age-standardised prevalence rate was lower than that seen globally, depressive disorders were considerable mental health issues in Vietnam. This study will help governments and policymakers to establish appropriate strategies to reduce the burden of these disorders by identifying the priority areas and individuals.

Trends in childhood obesity in Japan: A nationwide observational study from 2012 to 2021.

The persistent ascension of childhood obesity on a global scale constitutes a significant quandary. The prevalence of childhood obesity in Japan peaked in the early 2000s and has been reported to have declined since then, but recent data and its trend including the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic era are not available. Moreover, there is a dearth of studies examining the correlation between the trend in childhood obesity and exercise habits over the past decade. This study aims to examine the changes in the prevalence of obesity, physical fitness, and exercise habits over the past 10 years in Japanese children. We investigated the prevalence of childhood obesity in Japan, using the School Health Statistics Survey data from 2012 to 2021. The dataset has a sample size representative of children nationwide and includes variables for obesity, such as height, weight, and age. Data were classified into groups by sex and age (6-8, 9-11, and 12-14 years age). Children weighing 20% or more of the standard body weight are classified as obese. The annual percentage changes and average annual percentage changes were estimated using the joinpoint regression model. We also examined the trends in the physical fitness test score and exercise time. Average annual percentage changes of boys increased, especially in the 6- to 8-year age group (3.4%-4.6%). For girls, average annual percentage changes had increased in 6- to 8-year (2.5%-4.0%) and 9- to 11-year (0.9%-2.2%) age groups. Since the late 2010s, significantly increasing annual percentage changes were observed in 12- to 14-year age boys (6.7%-8.9%) and girls of many age groups (2.6%-8.6%). The physical fitness test score and exercise time showed decreasing trends since the late 2010s. Childhood obesity may have generally risen in Japan, in the last decade. Encouraging healthy eating and physical activity through school policies and curricula is necessary.

International Trends in Adverse Drug Event-Related Mortality from 2001 to 2019: An Analysis of the World Health Organization Mortality Database from 54 Countries.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Adverse drug events (ADEs) are becoming a significant public health issue. However, reports on ADE-related mortality are limited to national-level evaluations. Therefore, we aimed to reveal overall trends in ADE-related mortality across the 21st century on an international level. METHODS: This observational study analysed long-term trends in ADE-related mortality rates from 2001 to 2019 using the World Health Organization Mortality Database. The rates were analysed according to sex, age and region. North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Western Pacific regions were assessed. Fifty-four countries were included with four-character International Statistical Classification of Disease and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision codes in the database, population data in the World Population Prospects 2019 report, mortality data in more than half of the study period, and high-quality or medium-quality death registration data. A locally weighted regression curve was used to show international trends in age-standardised rates. RESULTS: The global ADE-related mortality rate per 100,000 population increased from 2.05 (95% confidence interval 0.92-3.18) in 2001 to 6.86 (95% confidence interval 5.76-7.95) in 2019. Mortality rates were higher among men than among women, especially in those aged 20-50 years. The population aged ≥ 75 years had higher ADE-related mortality rates than the younger population. North America had the highest mortality rate among the five regions. The global ADE-related mortality rate increased by approximately 3.3-fold from 2001 to 2019. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of ADEs has increased internationally with rising mortality rates. Establishing pharmacovigilance systems can facilitate efforts to reduce ADE-related mortality rates globally.

Trends in Head and Neck Cancer Mortality from 1999 to 2019 in Japan: An Observational Analysis.

Globally, the numbers of head and neck cancer (HNC) cases and related deaths have recently increased. In Japan, few studies have examined crude or age-adjusted HNC mortality rates. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the trends in crude and age-adjusted mortality rates for HNC per million individuals in Japan from 1999 to 2019. Data on HNC-associated deaths were extracted from the national death certificate database using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (n = 156,742). HNC mortality trends were analysed using joinpoint regression models to estimate annual percentage change (APC) and average APC (AAPC). Among men, no significant change was observed in the age-adjusted death rate trend from 1999 to 2014; however, a marked decrease was observed from 2014 to 2019. No changing point was observed in women. Age-adjusted mortality rates continuously decreased over the 21-year period, with an AAPC of -0.7% in men and -0.6% in women. In conclusion, the overall trend in age-adjusted rates of HNC-associated deaths decreased, particularly among men, in the past 5 years. These results will contribute to the formulation of medical policies to develop targeted screening and prevention programmes for HNC in Japan and determine the direction of treatment strategies.

Effect of a mobile app chatbot and an interactive small-group webinar on COVID-19 vaccine intention and confidence in Japan: a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: We investigated the effect of social media-based interventions on COVID-19 vaccine intention (VI) and confidence in Japan. METHODS: We conducted a three-arm randomised controlled trial between 5 November 2021 and 9 January 2022 during a low incidence (<1000/day) of COVID-19 in Japan in the midst of the second and the third waves. Japanese citizens aged ≥20 who had not received any COVID-19 vaccine and did not intend to be vaccinated were randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: (1) a control group, (2) a group using a mobile app chatbot providing information on COVID-19 vaccines and (3) a group using interactive webinars with health professionals. VI and predefined Vaccine Confidence Index (VCI) measuring confidence in the importance, safety and effectiveness were compared before and after the interventions under intention-to-treat principle. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the effect of each intervention on postintervention VI and changes of VCI compared with control. RESULTS: Among 386 participants in each group, 359 (93.0%), 231 (59.8%) and 207 (53.6%) completed the postsurvey for the control, chatbot and webinar groups, respectively. The average duration between the intervention and the postsurvey was 32 days in chatbot group and 27 days in webinar group. VI increased from 0% to 18.5% (95% CI 14.5%, 22.5%) in control group, 15.4% (95% CI 10.8%, 20.1%) in chatbot group and 19.7% (95% CI 14.5%, 24.9%) in webinar group without significant difference (OR for improvement=0.8 (95% CI 0.5, 1.3), p=0.33 between chatbot and control, OR=1.1 (95% CI 0.7, 1.6), p=0.73 between webinar and control). VCI change tended to be larger in chatbot group compared with control group without significant difference (3.3% vs -2.5% in importance, OR for improvement=1.3 (95% CI 0.9, 2.0), p=0.18; 2.5% vs 1.9% in safety, OR=1.1 (95% CI 0.7, 1.9), p=0.62; -2.4% vs -7.6% in effectiveness, OR=1.4 (95% CI 0.9, 2.1), p=0.09). Improvement in VCI was larger in webinar group compared with control group for importance (7.8% vs -2.5%, OR=1.8 (95% CI 1.2, 2.8), p<0.01), effectiveness (6.4% vs -7.6%, OR=2.2 (95% CI 1.4, 3.4), p<0.01) and safety (6.0% vs 1.9%, OR=1.6 (95% CI 1.0, 2.6), p=0.08). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that neither the chatbot nor the webinar changed VI importantly compared with control. Interactive webinars could be an effective tool to change vaccine confidence. Further study is needed to identify risk factors associated with decreased vaccine confidence and investigate what intervention can increase VI and vaccine confidence for COVID-19 vaccines. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000045747.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus-associated Immune Complex Kidney Disease Progressing to End-stage Kidney Disease.

A 58-year-old man with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection presented with a week-long history of gross hematuria, nephrotic proteinuria, and acute kidney injury. The patient was non-adherent with combination antiretroviral therapy. A kidney biopsy showed cellular crescents with disruption of Bowman's capsule, C3-dominant immune complex deposition, consistent with HIV-associated immune complex kidney disease (HIVICK). During the course, his worsening kidney function warranted initiation of hemodialysis. This case highlights the fact that HIV patients are at an increased risk of developing HIVICK, especially in the setting of non-adherence. A greater understanding of HIVICK among HIV patients should promote additional investigation into its etiology and viable treatments.

Trends in the Incidence of Japanese Spotted Fever in Japan: A Nationwide, Two-Decade Observational Study from 2001-2020.

The worldwide spread of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) has become a public health concern. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify trends in the incidence of Japanese spotted fever (JSF), one of Japan's most prevalent TBDs. Weekly infectious disease reports were used to calculate the annual incidence rates (AIRs) of JSF. Data were stratified by age and sex, and joinpoint regression analysis was performed to estimate the annual percentage change (APC). AIR and APC were geographically compared among the 47 prefectures. A total of 3,453 JSF cases were observed from 2001 to 2020. The AIR per 100,000 population was 0.03 in 2001, which increased approximately 10-fold to 0.33 in 2020. The average APC (AAPC) during the study period was 12.3% (95% CI: 10.7-13.9). By age group, the incidence of JSF increased more rapidly among the older population: 11.5% (95% CI: 10.1-12.9) in those aged ≥ 65 years and 8.9% (95% CI: 6.4-11.5) in those aged < 50 years. Although the AIR over the past two decades was higher in climatically warm regions located in southwestern Japan and on the Pacific coast, increases in the AAPC were notable in colder regions located in eastern Japan. The incidence of JSF continues to increase in Japan, especially among older populations and in eastern prefectures, where the disease has not been previously diagnosed.

Corowa-kun: A messenger app chatbot delivers COVID-19 vaccine information, Japan 2021.

BACKGROUND: There is a long history in Japan of public concerns about vaccine adverse events. Few studies have assessed how mobile messenger apps affect COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. METHODS: Corowa-kun, a free chatbot, was created on February 6, 2021 in LINE, the most popular messenger app in Japan. Corowa-kun provides instant, automated answers to 70 frequently asked COVID-19 vaccine questions. A cross-sectional survey with 21 questions was performed within Corowa-kun during April 5-12, 2021. RESULTS: A total of 59,676 persons used Corowa-kun during February-April 2021. Of them, 10,192 users (17%) participated in the survey. Median age was 55 years (range 16-97), and most were female (74%). COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy reported by survey respondents decreased from 41% to 20% after using Corowa-kun. Of the 20% who remained hesitant, 16% (1,675) were unsure, and 4% (364) did not intend to be vaccinated. Factors associated with vaccine hesitancy were: age 16-34 (odds ratio [OR] = 3.7; 95% confidential interval [CI]: 3.0-4.6, compared to age ≥ 65), female sex (OR = 2.4; Cl: 2.1-2.8), and history of a previous vaccine side-effect (OR = 2.5; Cl: 2.2-2.9). Being a physician (OR = 0.2; Cl: 0.1-0.4) and having received a flu vaccine the prior season (OR = 0.4; Cl: 0.3-0.4) were protective. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of people used the chabot in a short period. Mobile messenger apps could be leveraged to provide accurate vaccine information and to investigate vaccine intention and risk factors for vaccine hesitancy.

Trends in places and causes of death among centenarians in Japan from 2006 to 2016.

AIM: Amid the global aging, an establishment of healthcare policies for the aged population is a common issue to be addressed. However, few studies on centenarians have reported place and cause of death (PoD and CoD, respectively) as indicators of end-of-life care quality. This study aimed to analyze trends in PoD and CoD among centenarians in Japan. METHODS: Data from death certificates from Japanese vital statistics were analyzed; 205 513 deaths occurred among centenarians (aged ≥100 years) in Japan during the period from 2006 to 2016. PoD prevalence was calculated for each CoD. Trends in PoD prevalence were analyzed using the Joinpoint regression model. Changing points, annual percentage changes, and average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) were calculated to examine trends. RESULTS: The number of deaths more than doubled from 10 340 in 2006 to 26 427 in 2016. PoDs were composed of hospitals (52.7%), nursing homes (31.4%), own homes (13.6%) and others (2.2%). Dementia and old age increased rapidly as CoD. Proportions of hospital and home deaths decreased, with AAPCs of -2.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], -2.6 to -1.9) and -2.3% (95% CI, -3.2 to -1.4), respectively. Conversely, the proportion of deaths in nursing homes rapidly increased, with an AAPC of 6.8% (95% CI, 6.0-7.7). CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed changes in PoD among centenarians in Japan. Understanding these transitions is indispensable for health policy in aging societies. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 675-680.

Late-Onset Hypogonadism in a Male Patient with Long COVID Diagnosed by Exclusion of ME/CFS.

After the acute phase of COVID-19, some patients have been reported to have persistent symptoms including general fatigue. We have established a COVID-19 aftercare clinic (CAC) to provide care for an increasing number of these patients. Here, we report the case of a 36-year-old man who developed post-COVID fatigue after acute infection with SARS-CoV-2. In the acute phase of COVID-19, the patient's fever resolved within four days; however, general fatigue persisted for three months, and he visited our CAC 99 days after the initial infection. Examination revealed a high Aging Male's Symptoms (AMS) score of 44 and low free testosterone (FT) level of 5.5 pg/mL, which meet the Japanese criteria of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) syndrome. Imaging studies revealed an atrophic pituitary in addition to fatty liver and low bone mineral density. Anterior pituitary function tests showed a low follicle-stimulating hormonelevel and delayed reaction of luteinizing hormone (LH) after gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation, indicating the possibility of hypothalamic hypogonadism in addition to primary hypogonadism seen in patients with post-COVID-19 conditions. After the initiation of Japanese traditional medicine (Kampo medicine: hochuekkito followed by juzentaihoto), the patient's symptoms as well as his AMS score and serum FT level were noticeably improved. Furthermore, follow-up tests of GnRH stimulation revealed improvements in LH responsiveness. Although many patients have been reported to meet the criteria of ME/CFS such as our case, we emphasize the possibility of other underlying pathologies including LOH syndrome. In conclusion, LOH syndrome should be considered a cause of general fatigue in patients with post-COVID-19 conditions and herbal treatment might be effective for long COVID symptoms due to LOH (264 words).

Trends in sarcoidosis mortality rate in Japan from 2001 to 2020: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The sarcoidosis mortality rate has increased over the years, which contributes to the health care burden. Although epidemiological studies of sarcoidosis mortality in aging societies are essential, none have been published since 1989 in Japan. METHODS: We aimed to investigate the trends in crude and age-adjusted sarcoidosis-associated mortality rates per 1,000,000 population in Japan from 2001 to 2020 using national death certificate data among older adults aged over 50 years. The data were analysed using the joinpoint regression models to estimate long-term trends and average annual percentage changes (AAPCs). RESULTS: A total of 3094 sarcoidosis-associated deaths were recorded from 2001 to 2020 in Japan; women constituted 65.3% of these, with a female:male ratio of 1.89. Nearly 80% of deaths were over the age of 65 years, of which 32% were over the age of 80 years. The trend in crude mortality of those aged ≥80 years markedly increased from 0.81 to 9.68 per 1,000,000 population in men and from 2.38 to 12.87 in women, respectively. The overall age-adjusted sarcoidosis mortality rate increased 2.46-fold during the study period, with an AAPC of 5.1%. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that sarcoidosis-associated deaths in Japan have significantly increased over the past two decades, especially among the older population with a female predominance. Given the rising mortality rate and susceptibility of the older population, sarcoidosis will require more attention from health care providers in terms of a multidisciplinary approach to address the specific needs of the older population.

Trends in the amyloidosis mortality rate in Japan: A nationwide observational study from 1998 to 2019.

AIM: Despite the increasing attention that has been paid to amyloidosis in recent years, there have been few reports on amyloidosis mortality and its trends worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the trends in crude and age-adjusted amyloidosis-associated mortality rates in Japan from 1998 to 2019. METHODS: We used national Vital Statistics data among older adults aged over 50 years. The data were analyzed using the joinpoint regression program to estimate the long-term trends and average annual percentage changes (AAPCs). RESULTS: A total of 9158 amyloidosis-associated deaths were recorded from 1998 to 2019, of which 56.1% were in men. The crude mortality rate per 1 000 000 older adults aged over 80 years increased from 9.65 to 54.3 among men and from 7.02 to 22.1 among women during the study period. Overall, the AAPCs of age-adjusted amyloidosis-associated mortality rates increased significantly over the study period (1.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-2.7%). While the annual percentage change (APC) of age-adjusted mortality rates in women showed no significant change over the study period, the APC in men markedly increased in the 2013-2019 period (8.2%, 95% CI: 6.0-10.4%). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed an increasing trend in mortality associated with amyloidosis, and in particular a marked increase in mortality among men over the past 6 years. Considering its high mortality rate and susceptibility to the effects of an increasing population of older adults, amyloidosis deserves more attention from healthcare providers to improve the understanding of diagnosis, clinical treatment, and healthcare planning. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 246-250.

Population-Based Observational Study of Adverse Drug Event-Related Mortality in the Super-Aged Society of Japan.

INTRODUCTION: Adverse drug events (ADEs) are a major cause of mortality. OBJECTIVE: We examined long-term trends for ADE-related deaths in Japan. METHODS: This observational study was conducted using the Japanese Vital Statistics from 1999 to 2016. Data for all ADE-related deaths were extracted using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes. We analysed ADE-related deaths by age and sex and calculated crude and age-standardised mortality rates (ASMR) per 100,000 people. We used Joinpoint regression analysis to identify significant changing points in mortality trends and to estimate annual percentage change (APC). RESULTS: In total, 16,417 ADE-related deaths were identified. The crude mortality rate for individuals aged ≥ 65 years was higher than that of young individuals. The ASMR per 100,000 people increased from 0.44 in 1999 to 0.64 in 2016. The crude mortality rate increased from 0.44 in 1999 to 1.01 in 2016. The APC of ASMR increased at a rate of 2.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-4.2) throughout the study period. In addition, crude mortality increased at a rate of 5.7% (95% CI 4.2-7.3) annually from 1999 to 2016. The ADE-related mortality rate was higher for men than for women during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The number of and trend in ADE-related deaths increased in Japan from 1999 to 2016, particularly in the older population.

Adverse drug events (ADEs) are a public health issue, but descriptive data on ADEs in Japan are limited. Studies have shown that elderly people have a higher risk of dying from ADEs. Japan has one of the most rapidly aging populations and the highest percentage of older individuals worldwide. Clarifying long-term data trends in Japan is important in the aging world. Here, we aimed to clarify the trend in mortality related to ADEs in Japan. We selected 16,417 deaths that were assigned an underlying cause (i.e., ADEs) in vital statistics based on codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The crude mortality rate for both sexes increased from 0.44 per 100,000 in 1999 to 1.01 in 2016. The average annual percentage change (average APC), which numerically shows the change over time, was 5.7% throughout the study period. The age-standardised mortality rate, using the population in the first year, increased from 0.44 per 100,000 in 1999 to 0.64 in 2016. The average APC of the age-standardised mortality rate showed an increasing trend at 2.8%. Even after age standardisation, ADE-associated death showed an increasing trend. In particular, population groups aged ≥65 years showed a continuous increasing trend. These findings suggest that the ADE-related mortality rate in Japan is increasing, especially in elderly individuals.

Trends in the Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Disease Mortality Rate in Japan: A Nationwide Observational Study, 1997-2016.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections has been increasing worldwide, becoming a significant healthcare burden especially among elderly people. This study aimed to evaluate the trends in NTM-associated mortality in Japan. METHODS: This study used vital statistics data and data on all NTM-associated deaths (N = 18 814) among individuals aged ≥40 years in Japan from 1997 to 2016. We calculated the crude and age-adjusted mortality rates by age and sex and used joinpoint regression to analyze trends and estimate the average annual percentage change (AAPC). We compared crude NTM- and tuberculosis-associated mortality rates by sex. RESULTS: The overall crude annual mortality rate increased from 0.63/100 000/year in 1997 to 1.93/100 000/year in 2016 and was the highest among individuals aged 80-84 years. The AAPC of the crude mortality rates among men of all ages and women aged 40-59 years were stable but increased among women aged 60-79 years (3.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8-4.3) and ≥80 years (4.3%; 95% CI, 3.7-4.9). Among men, the age-adjusted mortality rates did not show a significant trend, while among women, the rates increased over the study period (AAPC, 4.6%; 95% CI, 2.7-6.6). In women, the crude NTM-associated mortality rate exceeded the tuberculosis mortality rate in 2014, 2015, and 2016. CONCLUSIONS: NTM mortality increased in Japan between 1997 and 2016, especially among the elderly female population. Given the increasing NTM-associated mortality and the susceptible aging population, public health authorities in Japan should pay greater attention to NTM infections.

Ectopic hyperparathyroidism due to an auto-transplanted parathyroid gland.

Hyperparathyroidism due to the autografted parathyroid gland should be suspected in patients who undergone parathyroid auto-transplantation.

A nationwide trend analysis in the incidence and mortality of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Japan between 2005 and 2014.

In the era of hyper-ageing, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) can become more prevalent as an important cause of dementia. This study aimed to evaluate the trends in crude and age-adjusted CJD-associated mortality and incidence rates in Japan using national vital statistics data on CJD-associated deaths among individuals aged over 50 years, as well as the government-funded nationwide CJD surveillance data (pertaining to the years 2005-2014) in Japan. The data were analysed using the Joinpoint Regression Program to estimate the long-term trends and average annual percentage changes (AAPCs). Overall, the AAPCs of age-adjusted CJD-associated mortality rates rose significantly over the study period (3.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-5.1%). The AAPC of the age-adjusted incidence rates also increased (overall 6.4%; 95% CI 4.7-8.1%). The CJD-associated increases in the mortality and incidence rates were especially prominent among adults over the age of 70 years. Given this trend in aging of population, the disease burden of CJD will continue to increase in severity. Our findings thus recommend that policymakers be aware of the importance of CJD and focus on preparing to address the increasing prevalence of dementia.

Coronary Spastic Angina Induced by Adrenal Insufficiency.

Adrenal insufficiency patients are treated with glucocorticoid replacement therapy. However, mimicking the in vivo circadian rhythm of cortisol levels is challenging, and suboptimal replacement increases the risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease. We herein report a case of coronary spastic angina (CSA) with simultaneous low early-morning serum cortisol levels in a patient undergoing corticosteroid replacement therapy for primary adrenal insufficiency. Steroid therapy is reportedly effective for refractory angina, but underlying adrenal deficiency has never been revealed. Our case intimates the probable risk of CSA as a complication of relative adrenal insufficiency and highlights the effectiveness of dexamethasone in these patients.

A rare case of oncocytic adrenocortical carcinoma clinically presented as an incidentaloma.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare aggressive tumor originating from adrenocortical parenchymal cells and its incidence is approximately 1 per million population per year. An oncocytic ACC is a recently identified entity among the several known histopathological variants of ACC, which is characterized by oncocytic cells, and only a few cases in the available literature have reported this tumor. In contrast to conventional ACCs, oncocytic ACCs usually manifest as solitary lesions presenting in adults without any sex predilection. We report a case of a 70-year-old Japanese man who presented with an incidentally discovered retroperitoneal mass without any evidence of excessive corticosteroid secretion. Laboratory and imaging studies, as well as transgastric endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration failed to establish a definitive diagnosis. Thus, the patient underwent surgical resection of the left-sided peritoneal tumor. Weiss score was positive in 6/9 points and the tumor met two major criteria of the Lin-Weiss-Bisceglia (LWB) system leading to a diagnosis of an oncocytic variant of ACC. Based on our findings in this patient, we conclude that a combination of the Weiss and LWB criteria is required to determine the malignant potential of oncocytic adrenal tumors because ACCs and oncocytomas could be frequently indistinguishable. Careful histopathological examination is pivotal in confirming the oncocytic component in the lesion and hence definitive diagnosis of ACCs.

Calciphylaxis of the fingers.

A 69-year-old Japanese man with a 10-year history of hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease presented with painful necrosis of the fingers of his right hand. A plain radiograph of the right hand revealed severely calcified arteries, particularly in the ring finger, suggesting the diagnosis of calciphylaxis of the fingers.