Comparison of postoperative adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy and no further therapy after radical surgery in intermediate-risk early-stage cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To identify a relatively high-risk population in postoperative intermediate-risk cervical cancer and evaluate the effect of platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy (CT). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with stage IA2-IIA cervical cancer who had been treated with radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy and classified as the intermediate-risk group for recurrence by postoperative pathological examination from January 2007 to December 2018 at 3 medical centers in Japan. First, patients with intermediate-risk were stratified by histological type and the number of intermediate-risk factors (IRF; large tumor diameter, lymph vascular space invasion, and deep cervical stromal invasion) and then divided into 2 groups: high and low-risk population (estimated 5-year recurrence-free survival [RFS] rate with no further therapy [NFT] <90% and ≥90%, respectively). Second, the efficacy of CT for the high-risk population was evaluated by comparing RFS and overall survival (OS) between the patients receiving CT and those with NFT. RESULTS: In total, 133 patients were included in the analysis. Among patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with all IRF or those with non-SCC with 2 to 3 IRF, the 5-year estimated RFS was <90% when treated with NFT. In this population, adjuvant CT was significantly superior to NFT regarding RFS (log-rank, p=0.014), although there was no statistical difference in OS. CONCLUSION: Patients with SCC with all 3 IRFs and those with non-SCC with 2 to 3 IRFs were at high risk for recurrence. Adjuvant CT is a valid treatment option for these populations.

Prevalence of hazardous drinking and suspected alcohol dependence in Japanese primary care settings.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the prevalence of hazardous drinking and potential alcohol dependence among Japanese primary care patients, and their readiness to change and awareness of others' concerns. METHODS: From July to August 2023, we conducted a multi-site cross-sectional study as a screening survey for participants in a cluster randomized controlled trial. The trial included outpatients aged 20-74 from primary care clinics. Using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) alongside a self-administered questionnaire, we evaluated the prevalence of hazardous drinking and suspected alcohol dependence, patients' readiness to change, and their awareness of others' concerns. RESULTS: Among the 1388 participants from 18 clinics, 22% (95% confidence interval (CI): 20% to 24%) were identified as engaging in hazardous drinking or suspected of being alcohol dependent. As the AUDIT scores increased, so did their readiness to change. However, only 22% (95%CI: 16% to 28%) of those with scores ranging from 8 to 14 reported that others, including physicians, had expressed concerns about their drinking during the past year. For those with scores of 15 or higher, the figure was 74%. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the need for universal or high-risk alcohol screening and brief intervention in Japanese primary care settings. Trial registry UMIN-CTR (https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/) (UMIN000051388).

Development of the AI Pipeline for Corneal Opacity Detection.

Ophthalmological services face global inadequacies, especially in low- and middle-income countries, which are marked by a shortage of practitioners and equipment. This study employed a portable slit lamp microscope with video capabilities and cloud storage for more equitable global diagnostic resource distribution. To enhance accessibility and quality of care, this study targets corneal opacity, which is a global cause of blindness. This study has two purposes. The first is to detect corneal opacity from videos in which the anterior segment of the eye is captured. The other is to develop an AI pipeline to detect corneal opacities. First, we extracted image frames from videos and processed them using a convolutional neural network (CNN) model. Second, we manually annotated the images to extract only the corneal margins, adjusted the contrast with CLAHE, and processed them using the CNN model. Finally, we performed semantic segmentation of the cornea using annotated data. The results showed an accuracy of 0.8 for image frames and 0.96 for corneal margins. Dice and IoU achieved a score of 0.94 for semantic segmentation of the corneal margins. Although corneal opacity detection from video frames seemed challenging in the early stages of this study, manual annotation, corneal extraction, and CLAHE contrast adjustment significantly improved accuracy. The incorporation of manual annotation into the AI pipeline, through semantic segmentation, facilitated high accuracy in detecting corneal opacity.

Feasibility of Tear Meniscus Height Measurements Obtained with a Smartphone-Attachable Portable Device and Agreement of the Results with Standard Slit Lamp Examination.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using a novel device, the Smart Eye Camera (SEC), for assessing tear meniscus height (TMH) after fluorescein staining and the agreement of the results with measurements obtained using standard slit lamp examination. METHODS: TMH was assessed using both SEC and conventional slit lamp examination. The images were analyzed using the software ImageJ 1.53t (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA). A common measurement unit scale was established based on a paper strip, which was used as a calibration marker to convert pixels into metric scale. A color threshold was applied using uniform parameters for brightness, saturation, and hue. The images were then binarized to black and white to enhance the representation of the tear menisci. A 2 mm area around the upper and lower meniscus in the central eye lid zone was selected and magnified 3200 times to facilitate manual measurement. The values obtained using SEC were compared with those obtained with a slit lamp. RESULTS: The upper and lower TMH values measured using the SEC were not statistically different from those obtained with a slit lamp (0.209 ± 0.073 mm vs. 0.235 ± 0.085, p = 0.073, and 0.297 ± 0.168 vs. 0.260 ± 0.173, p = 0.275, respectively). The results of Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated strong agreement between the two instruments, with a mean bias of -0.016 mm (agreement limits: -0.117 to 0.145 mm) for upper TMH and 0.031 mm (agreement limits: -0.306 to 0.368 mm) for lower TMH. CONCLUSIONS: The SEC demonstrated sufficient validity and reliability for assessing TMH in healthy eyes in a clinical setting, demonstrating concordance with the conventional slit lamp examination.

AI-based diagnosis of nuclear cataract from slit-lamp videos.

In ophthalmology, the availability of many fundus photographs and optical coherence tomography images has spurred consideration of using artificial intelligence (AI) for diagnosing retinal and optic nerve disorders. However, AI application for diagnosing anterior segment eye conditions remains unfeasible due to limited standardized images and analysis models. We addressed this limitation by augmenting the quantity of standardized optical images using a video-recordable slit-lamp device. We then investigated whether our proposed machine learning (ML) AI algorithm could accurately diagnose cataracts from videos recorded with this device. We collected 206,574 cataract frames from 1812 cataract eye videos. Ophthalmologists graded the nuclear cataracts (NUCs) using the cataract grading scale of the World Health Organization. These gradings were used to train and validate an ML algorithm. A validation dataset was used to compare the NUC diagnosis and grading of AI and ophthalmologists. The results of individual cataract gradings were: NUC 0: area under the curve (AUC) = 0.967; NUC 1: AUC = 0.928; NUC 2: AUC = 0.923; and NUC 3: AUC = 0.949. Our ML-based cataract diagnostic model achieved performance comparable to a conventional device, presenting a promising and accurate auto diagnostic AI tool.

Locally advanced endometrial cancer with multiple immune-related adverse events coinciding with the complete response to radiotherapy after immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A case report.

We report a case of a 70-year-old female patient with locally advanced endometrial cancer with primary empty sella who developed multiple immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including hypopituitarism coinciding with the complete response to radiotherapy after receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. A computed tomography scan acquired after a traffic accident led to the discovery of endometrial cancer that had invaded the vulva and primary empty sella. Following adriamycin and cisplatin, pembrolizumab was administered for three cycles. No irAEs were observed during treatment, but the tumor was progressive. The patient underwent radiotherapy for the residual tumor. Four months after the last dose of pembrolizumab, hypopituitarism caused secondary adrenal insufficiency, primary hypothyroidism, and pseudogout at the end of radiotherapy. The tumor later achieved a complete response. In conclusion, radiotherapy after immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is expected to have an antitumor effect by stimulating tumor-specific immunity. However, proper management of irAEs is necessary. Patients with primary empty sella may be prone to pituitary insufficiency induced by ICIs.

Anaerobic methane-oxidizing activity in a deep underground borehole dominantly colonized by Ca. Methanoperedenaceae.

The family Ca. Methanoperedenaceae archaea mediates the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) in different terrestrial environments. Using a newly developed high-pressure laboratory incubation system, we investigated 214- and 249-m deep groundwater samples at Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory, Japan, where the high and low abundances of Ca. Methanoperedenaceae archaea have been shown by genome-resolved metagenomics, respectively. The groundwater samples amended with 13 C-labelled methane and amorphous Fe(III) were incubated at a pressure of 1.6 MPa. After 3-7 days of incubation, the AOM rate was 45.8 ± 19.8 nM/day in 214-m groundwater. However, almost no activity was detected from 249-m groundwater. Based on the results from 16S rRNA gene analysis, the abundance of Ca. Methanoperedenaceae archaea was high in the 214-m deep groundwater sample, whereas Ca. Methanoperedenaceae archaea was undetected in the 249-m deep groundwater sample. These results support the in situ AOM activity of Ca. Methanoperedenaceae archaea in the 214-m deep subsurface borehole interval. Although the presence of Fe-bearing phyllosilicates was demonstrated in the 214-m deep groundwater, it needs to be determined whether Ca. Methanoperedenaceae archaea use the Fe-bearing phyllosilicates as in situ electron acceptors by high-pressure incubation amended with the Fe-bearing phyllosilicates.

Lymphocytic panhypophysitis and anti-rabphilin-3A antibody with pulmonary sarcoidosis.

PURPOSE: To explore the clinical significance of anti-rabphillin-3A antibody for the differential diagnosis of lymphocytic panhypophysitis. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 58-year-old Japanese man developed uveitis of unknown cause in 2017. In 2019, he became aware of polyuria. In August 2020, he noticed transient diplopia and was diagnosed with right abducens nerve palsy. At the same time, he complained of fatigue and loss of appetite. Head magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated enlargement of the pituitary stalk and pituitary gland, corresponding to hypophysitis. Hormone stimulation tests showed blunted responses with respect to all anterior pituitary hormones. Central diabetes insipidus was diagnosed on the basis of a hypertonic saline loading test. Taking these findings together, a diagnosis of panhypopituitarism was made. Computed tomography showed enlargement of hilar lymph nodes. Biopsies of the hilar lymph nodes revealed non-caseating epithelioid cell granulomas that were consistent with sarcoidosis. Biopsy of the anterior pituitary revealed mild lymphocyte infiltration in the absence of IgG4-positive cells, non-caseating granulomas, or neoplasia. Western blotting revealed the presence of anti-rabphilin-3A antibody, supporting a diagnosis of lymphocytic panhypophysitis. Because the patient had no visual impairment or severe uveitis, we continued physiological hormone replacement therapy and topical steroid therapy for the uveitis. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of anti-rabphilin 3A antibody positive lymphocytic panhypophysitis comorbid with sarcoidosis, diagnosed by both pituitary and hilar lymph node biopsy. The utility of anti-rabphilin-3A antibody for the differential diagnosis of hypophysitis like this case should be clarified with further case studies.

Exacerbation of autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis that improved with lone treatment of complicating nontuberculous mycobacterial infection: A case report.

Herein, we present the case of a 63-year-old man with autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (APAP) complicated by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection. APAP was diagnosed based on serum anti-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor antibody, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) findings, and transbronchial lung biopsy. Nodular shadows with cavities were visible on chest CT images, and Mycobacterium intracellulare was identified by BALF culture. Rifampicin, ethambutol, and clarithromycin were administered, and 4 months later, the nodular shadows of MAC had disappeared, and APAP was remarkably improved. Thus, in cases of APAP exacerbation complicated with infections, such as MAC, control of the infections may improve APAP.

An abdominal-sacral approach with preoperative embolisation for vulvar solitary fibrous tumour: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Solitary fibrous tumours (SFTs) in the female genital tract are uncommon. Resection of these tumours is controversial because it can cause life-threatening haemorrhage. We report a case of vulvar SFT that was excised in a combined abdominal-sacral approach after preoperative embolisation. CASE PRESENTATION: At another hospital, an inoperable intrapelvic tumour was diagnosed in a 34-year-old woman. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed that the uterus, urinary bladder and rectum were compressed laterally by a pelvic tumour with a maximum diameter of 11 cm. This mass was hypervascular and had a well-defined border. Transperineal biopsy was performed, and immunostaining revealed that the mass was an SFT. The tumour was supplied by feeding vessels from the right iliac arteries. First, we embolised the feeding vessels. Second, we performed surgical resection in a combined abdominal-sacral approach; no blood transfusion was necessary, and no perioperative complications occurred. The final pathological diagnosis was SFT that was positive for CD34 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 according to immunohistochemical staining. CONCLUSION: During a year of follow-up, the disease did not recur. Treatment of pelvic SFT should aim at complete resection through various approaches after careful measures are taken to prevent haemorrhage.

Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of an unknown primary with a thyroid tumour and an aggressive course: thyroid or lung carcinoma?

Cancers of unknown primary (CUPs) are challenging for physicians to diagnose and treat. Metastases to the thyroid gland are rare, representing less than 1% of all thyroid malignancies. Here, we report a case of a 69-year-old Asian man who had both thyroid gland and lymph node enlargement in the neck and shoulders but no nodules/tumours in the lung field. The patient died 51 days after his first visit to our office, although pembrolizumab was administered on day 34 based on programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) with paired box 8 (PAX8) may be useful to diagnostically distinguish poorly differentiated lung adenocarcinomas from napsin A-positive thyroid carcinomas.

Stereoselective syntheses of cryptocarya diacetate and all its stereoisomers in optically pure forms.

Cryptocarya diacetate and each of its stereoisomers were stereoselectively synthesized in 8-16 steps. One of the three chiral carbons was converted from the chiral center of a yeast-reduction product. The other two chiral carbons were constructed by employing stereoselective allylation and syn-and anti-1,3-reductions. The enantiomeric excesses of the synthesized cryptocarya diacetate and its stereoisomers were determined to be more than 99%ee using a chiral column.

Management of primary iliopsoas abscess in an immunocompetent patient followed by streptococcal toxic shock syndrome: A case report.

OBJECTIVES: Clinical diagnosis of iliopsoas abscess can be challenging, as this pathology often presents without obvious focal findings. Iliopsoas abscess should thus be a differential diagnosis for patients presenting with fever of unknown origin. PATIENT AND METHODS: A 62-year-old healthy Japanese man showed primary iliopsoas abscess of Klebsiella pneumoniae complicated by shock after a complete course of treatment for streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Successful treatment was achieved with culture-driven antibiotic selection and delayed drainage. RESULTS: This case demonstrates the importance of identifying the causative microorganisms in iliopsoas abscess to guide therapy. The standard treatments for iliopsoas abscess are antibiotics and drainage of the abscess. Management of this case included successful antibiotic use along with delayed drainage. CONCLUSION: This case report advances the knowledge on the etiology of iliopsoas abscess and sheds light on the need for scientific development of a treatment strategy.

Total syntheses of (-)- and (+)-boronolide and their plant growth-inhibitory activity.

Optically pure (+)- and (-)-boronolides were stereoselectively synthesized from yeast reductive products which had been obtained by yeast reduction of one common racemic substrate. The lactone structure of boronolide was constructed by Baeyer-Villiger oxidation. The stereochemistry of the yeast reduction products was studied to obtain the stereocenters at 5 positions of the dodecanolides of (+)- and (-)-boronolides. The stereochemistry of the 6 and 7 positions was obtained by AD-mix-α or ß oxidation. The chiral center at the 8 position was constructed by employing (R)-(+)- or (S)-(-)-2-methyl-CBS-oxazaborolidine reduction or the Mitsunobu reaction. The plant growth-inhibitory activity against Echinochloa crusgalli L. of naturally occurring (+)-boronolide was higher than that of the (-)-boronolide.

[Clinical study to obtain true view of the glenohumeral joint on scapula-45].

Scapula-45 is an original roentogenographical technique to clarify objectively the function of the rotator cuff and scapulothoracic joint. This examination enables assessment of the function of the rotator cuff and scapulothoracic joint utilizing the radiographs of the glenohumeral joint. However, in the former technique, it was difficult for the technician to properly align the patient for the view of the true glenohumeral joint because of the individual postural difference of the patients, such as kyphosis. In the present study, we reported a new technique with the use of the acromion, coracoid process, and inferior angle of the scapula as a landmark to obtain the consistent radiographs of the glenohumeral joint.

Successful resection of schwannoma from an intercostal nerve causing bloody pleural effusion: report of a case.

We report a case of schwannoma arising from the 9th intercostal nerve, which caused a bloodstained pleural effusion. The patient, a 37-year-old woman, presented with left-sided back pain. A chest X-ray showed left pleural effusion, which was subsequently found to be bloodstained but without malignant cells. Chest magnetic resonance imaging showed a 76-mm tumor arising from the 9th intercostal nerve. The tumor and intercostal nerve were successfully resected. Histological examination revealed that the tumor comprised spindle cells with both Antoni types A and B patterns. There were necrotic changes and cystic degeneration, but no atypical or mitotic cells. Based on these findings, benign schwannoma was diagnosed. Schwannoma is rarely accompanied by bloody pleural effusion, which we assume was caused by partial tumor rupture. Magnetic resonance imaging proved very useful in localizing and characterizing the tumor in this case.

The reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS-J).

BACKGROUND: The Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS) was developed to assess five levels of emotional awareness: bodily sensations, action tendencies, single emotions, blends of emotion, and combinations of blends. It is a paper and pencil performance questionnaire that presents 20 emotion-evoking scenes. We developed a Japanese version of the LEAS (LEAS-J), and its reliability and validity were examined. METHODS: The LEAS-J level was independently assessed by two researchers who scored each response according to the LEAS scoring manual. High inter-rater reliability and internal consistency were obtained for the LEAS-J. Measures were socioeconomic status, LEAS-J, Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). TAS-20, IRI and NEO-FFI were the measures used to explore the construct validity of LEAS-J, as it was predicted that higher scores on the LEAS-J would be related to fewer alexithymic features, greater empathetic ability, and a greater sense of cooperation with others. Questionnaires were completed by 344 university students. RESULTS: The criterion-referenced validity was determined: a significant negative relationship was found with the externally-oriented thinking scores of TAS-20, and positive relationships were found with fantasy, perspective taking, and empathic concern on IRI and with extraversion, openness to experience, and agreeableness on NEO-FFI. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with our expectations, the findings provide evidence that the LEAS-J has good reliability and validity. In addition, women had significantly higher scores than men on LEAS-J, showing that the gender difference identified in the original LEAS was cross-culturally consistent.

[The present situation of measures against tuberculosis in hemodialysis facilities in Chiba Prefecture].

PURPOSE: To observe the current situation of tuberculosis and its control measures in hemodialysis facilities in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. METHOD: Questionnaires on medical dialysis and tuberculosis were sent to hemodialysis facilities in Chiba Prefecture. RESULTS: The questionnaires were answered by 55 of 127 facilities. Of the respondents, 46 (83.6%) were not aware of the recommendation of treatment for latent tuberculosis infections in Japanese patients. Moreover, 30 (54.5%) facilities did not examine patients for tuberculosis prior to the initiation of hemodialysis. Of the 21 facilities that did assess patients for tuberculosis infection, only 5 (23.8%) performed a tuberculin skin test or QuantiFERON TB-2G. Three of the five (60.0%) that were treating tuberculosis by themselves expressed fear or uncertainty about the diagnosis and treatment of latent tuberculosis infections. During January 2006 through December 2007, tuberculosis patients were detected in 11 facilities, and the proportion of extrapulmonary tuberculosis among these patients was 52.4%. Seven facilities reported that they took no control measures against tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: It is important to inform medical dialysis facilities about latent tuberculosis infections, the early diagnosis of tuberculosis, and the combination of nosocomial infection control. It is also important for experts in hemodialysis and tuberculosis to work closely together.

Restaging by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in patients with inoperable advanced lung cancer.

We present two cases of inoperable advanced lung cancer in which the main lesions were mediastinal lymph nodes detected with positive positron emission tomography (PET). Drug therapy was very effective, and post-treatment PET results were negative. Restaging by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) was performed on the mediastinal lymph nodes with a short axis < or = 10 mm measured by computed tomography (CT). Cancer cells were detected, which helped determine the therapeutic strategy. Re-evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes using EBUS-TBNA appears to be useful, even among patients with inoperable advanced lung cancer.