Resectability of Small Duodenal Tumors: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Underwater Endoscopic Mucosal Resection and Cold Snare Polypectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (UEMR) and cold snare polypectomy (CSP) are novel endoscopic procedures for superficial nonampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADET). However, consensus on how to use both procedures appropriately has not been established. In this study, we evaluated treatment outcomes of both procedures, including resectability. METHODS: In this single-center randomized controlled study conducted between January 2020 and June 2022, patients with SNADET ≤12 mm were randomly allocated to UEMR and CSP groups. The primary end point was sufficient vertical R0 resection (SVR0), which was defined as R0 resection including a sufficient submucosal layer. We compared treatment outcomes including SVR0 rate between groups. RESULTS: The SVR0 rate was significantly higher in the UEMR group than in the CSP group (65.6% vs 41.5%, P = 0.01). By contrast, the R0 resection rate was not significantly different between study groups (70.3% vs 61.5%, P = 0.29). The submucosal layer thickness was significantly greater in the UEMR group than in the CSP group (median 546 [range, 309-833] µm vs 69 [0-295] µm, P < 0.01). CSP had a shorter total procedure time (median 12 [range, 8-16] min vs 1 [1-3] min, P < 0.01) and fewer total bleeding events (9.4% vs 1.5%, P = 0.06). DISCUSSION: UEMR has superior vertical resectability compared with CSP, but CSP has a shorter procedure time and fewer bleeding events. Although CSP is preferable for most small SNADET, UEMR should be selected for lesions that cannot be definitively diagnosed as mucosal low-grade neoplasias.

Incidence of Hospitalization-Associated Disability in Older Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: This study determined the incidence of hospitalization-associated disability (HAD) and its characteristics in older patients with heart failure in Japan.Methods and Results: Ninety-six institutions participated in this nationwide multicenter registry study (J-Proof HF). From December 2020 to March 2022, consecutive heart failure patients aged ≥65 years who were prescribed physical rehabilitation during hospitalization were enrolled. Of the 9,403 patients enrolled (median age 83.0 years, 50.9% male), 3,488 (37.1%) had HAD. Compared with the non-HAD group, the HAD group was older and had higher rates of hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and cerebrovascular disease comorbidity. The HAD group also had a significantly lower Barthel Index score and a significantly higher Kihon checklist score before admission. Of the 9,403 patients, 2,158 (23.0%) had a preadmission Barthel Index score of <85 points. Binomial logistic analysis revealed that age and preadmission Kihon checklist score were associated with HAD in patients with a preadmission Barthel Index score of ≥85, compared with New York Heart Association functional classification and preadmission cognitive decline in those with a Barthel Index score <85. CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide registry survey found that 37.1% of older patients with HF had HAD and that these patients are indicated for convalescent rehabilitation. Further widespread implementation of rehabilitation for older patients with heart failure is expected in Japan.

Effect of in-patient cardiac rehabilitation at rehabilitation hospital for cardiology patients: two-center trial.

The effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in patients with cardiovascular disease requiring continuous CR from an acute care hospital to a convalescent rehabilitation hospital is unknown. Therefore, we compared the effect of CR in a rehabilitation hospital for patients with cardiovascular disease with that of those who underwent cardiovascular surgery. Sixty-nine consecutive patients were admitted to two rehabilitation hospitals for CR. Patients were classified by primary disease into two groups: patients with cardiovascular disease (cardiology group, 26 patients) and patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery (surgery group, 43 patients). Clinical information, physical function, cognitive function, activities of daily living (ADL), quality of life (QOL), amount of CR, and length of hospital stay were compared between the two groups. Compared with clinical features, age was significantly higher in the cardiology group (P < 0.001), and the preadmission Barthel index was significantly lower in the cardiology group (P = 0.025). Physical function at the time of transfer was significantly lower in the cardiology group than in the surgery group for the short physical performance battery (P < 0.001), gait speed (P = 0.005), and 6-min walking distance (P = 0.042). No significant difference was found in the amount of CR performed or the length of hospital stay, and no interaction effects were observed in improvements in physical function, exercise tolerance, or QOL. In conclusion, in rehabilitation hospitals, patients with cardiovascular disease were older, had lower preadmission ADL, and had lower a physical function at transfer than those who underwent cardiovascular surgery, but CR improved physical function and QOL to the same extent. The results suggest that the recovery of patients with cardiovascular disease may be similar to those who undergo cardiovascular surgery.

Novel quantitative assessment indicators for efficiency and precision of endoscopic submucosal dissection in animal training models by analyzing an electrical surgical unit.

OBJECTIVES: Although endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) training is important, quantitative assessments have not been established. This study aimed to explore a novel quantitative assessment system by analyzing an electrical surgical unit (ESU). METHODS: This was an ex vivo study. Step one: to identify the novel efficiency indicators, 20 endoscopists performed one ESD each, and we analyzed correlations between their resection speed and electrical status. Step two: to identify the novel precision indicators, three experts and three novices performed one ESD each, and we compared the stability of the electrical status. Step three: three novices in step two performed 19 additional ESDs, and we analyzed the learning curve using novel indicators. RESULTS: Step one: the percentage of total activation time (AT) of ESU in the procedure time (ß coefficient, 0.80; P < 0.01) and AT required for submucosal dissection (ß coefficient, -0.57; P < 0.01) were significantly correlated with the resection speed. Step two: coefficient of variation of the AT per one pulse (0.16 [range, 0.13-0.17] vs. 0.26 [range, 0.20-0.41], P = 0.049) and coefficient of variation of the peak electric power per pulse during mucosal incision (0.14 [range, 0.080-0.15] vs. 0.25 [range, 0.24-0.28], P = 0.049) were significantly lower in the experts than in the novices. Regarding the learning curve, the percentage of total AT of ESU in the procedure time and AT required for submucosal dissection had a trend of improvement. CONCLUSION: Novel indicators identified by analyzing ESU enable quantitative assessment for endoscopist's skill.

Novel perfusion system using continuous liquid-suction catheter attachment in colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection with water pressure method (with video).

Water pressure method (WPM) is useful for colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), characterized not only by underwater conditions but also by active water pressure via the waterjet function. However, the extension of the colorectum by injecting excess water and contaminating the operative field by stool and bleeding have been issues. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a novel perfusion system using a continuous liquid-suction catheter attachment (CLCA) in colorectal ESD with WPM. We retrospectively reviewed cases in which the perfusion system was used in colorectal ESD with WPM between August 2022 and September 2023. We evaluated clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, volume of injection by the waterjet function, volume of suction by the endoscope and CLCA, and concentration of floating matter in the operative field over time. Thirty-one cases were enrolled. The median lesion size was 30 (range, 15-100) mm. In all cases, en bloc resection was achieved without perforation. The median injection volume was 2312 (range, 1234-13,866) g. The median suction volumes by the endoscope and CLCA were 918 (range, 141-3162) and 1147 (range, 254-11,222) g, respectively. The median concentration of floating matter in the operative field (measured in 15 cases) was 15.3 (range, 7.3-112) mg/mL when the endoscope arrived at the lesion and 8.0 (range, 3.2-16) mg/mL after endoscopically washing at the beginning of the ESD. It ranged from 7.6 to 13.4 mg/dL every 20 min during ESD. This perfusion system could prevent the extension of the lumen and maintain a good field of view in colorectal ESD with WPM.

Cut-off values of preoperative knee extensor strength and hip abductor strength for predicting good walking ability after total knee arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) reduces pain and improves physical function; however, not all patients have successful outcomes after surgery. To identify these patients would be critical information for improving rehabilitation programs. The purpose of this study was to clarify the cut-off values of lower extremity muscle strength for predicting postoperative good walking ability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Timed Up and Go test of 105 patients was measured at 6 months postoperatively, and participants were divided into good (< 9.1 s) and poor (≥ 9.1 s) walking ability. Both sides of knee extensor strength (KES) and hip abductor strength (HAS) were measured using hand-held dynamometer preoperatively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to identify cut-off values for classifying the participants into the two groups. RESULTS: Of the 105 patients, 54 were allocated in the poor walking ability group, whereas 51 were allocated in the good walking ability group. KES and HAS were significantly greater in the good walking ability group than in the poor walking ability group. ROC curve analysis revealed that the cut-off value for KES was 0.79 Nm/kg (area under the curve (AUC) 0.68; sensitivity 64.7%; specificity 68.5%) on the involved side and 0.86 Nm/kg (AUC 0.73; sensitivity 84.6%; specificity 55.6%) on the uninvolved side, and for HAS was 0.57 Nm/kg (AUC 0.71; sensitivity 60.8%; specificity 71.7%) on the involved side and 0.61 Nm/kg (AUC 0.76; sensitivity 66.7%; specificity 77.4%) on the uninvolved side. CONCLUSION: The cut-off values of preoperative KES and HAS for predicting good walking ability after TKA are 0.79 Nm/kg on the involved side and 0.86 Nm/kg on the uninvolved side, and 0.57 Nm/kg on the involved side and 0.61 Nm/kg on the uninvolved side, respectively. We should provide enhanced pre- and post-operative rehabilitation programs for patients with muscle strength lower than these values.

Modified double-layered suturing for a mucosal defect after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (Origami method) (with video).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Through-the-scope clips (TTSCs) are among the most common devices used to close colorectal post-endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) defects. Although TTSCs are easy to deliver, even to the proximal colon, simple clipping of large defects results in mucosa-mucosa closure, which could be unreliable. We developed a novel endoscopic closure technique using a modified double-layered suturing called the origami method (OGM). This method closes not only the mucosal layer but also the muscle layer with only TTSCs, which can obtain robust closure even for large defects. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of this new closure method for colorectal post-ESD defects. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital. We reviewed the cases of the OGM attempted after colorectal ESD at our institute between October 2021 and October 2022 and measured the clinical characteristics and outcomes of enrolled cases. RESULTS: The OGM was attempted in 47 cases after colorectal ESD. Thirty-one cases (66%) were in the proximal colon, 5 (11%) in the distal colon, 6 (13%) in the upper rectum, and 5 (10%) in the lower rectum. The median defect size was 38 mm, with the largest being 85 mm. Complete closure was achieved in 44 cases (94%), including all lower rectum cases. No perforations were caused by clips during closure, and delayed perforation and bleeding were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: This new closure method is feasible and recommended. The OGM could achieve reliable closure of large defects in any location, including the proximal colon and thick-walled lower rectum, using only TTSCs.

Closure of large mucosal defects for prevention of strictures after duodenal endoscopic submucosal dissection (with video).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although lesions occupying a large circumference are associated with the risk of post-endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) strictures, the corresponding data for duodenal lesions are unknown. We aimed to analyze the incidence of post-ESD strictures after wide-field duodenal ESD. METHODS: In this retrospective study of duodenal lesions treated with ESD between July 2010 and August 2021, we included lesions that resulted in mucosal defects occupying more than half of the circumference and excluded lesions located in bulbs and involving Vater's papilla. We analyzed the incidence rates of stricture and luminal narrowing, in addition to bleeding and perforation as the outcomes in this study. Stricture was defined as the inability of the endoscope to pass through the lumen. A single endoscopist reviewed all endoscopic images and judged the degree of luminal narrowing. RESULTS: Eighty lesions were included, of which 2 involved mucosal defects occupying more than 90% of the circumference. The wound was closed, at least partially, in 90% in all lesions and in 86% of lesions with a mucosal defect occupying more than 75% of the circumference. None of the lesions caused delayed perforation and stricture, whereas 2 lesions caused delayed bleeding. Only 6 lesions caused luminal narrowing. When examined by the degree of closure, the rate of luminal narrowing increased with complete closure, incomplete closure, and nonclosure (4.9%, 9.1%, and 25.0%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Suturing may prevent post-ESD bleeding and perforation as well as stricture formation in cases of duodenal tumors, with mucosal defects occupying a large circumference.

Intensive endoscopic resection strategy for multiple duodenal polyposis associated with familial adenomatous polyposis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Multiple duodenal polyposis associated with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a high risk of duodenal cancer development. We evaluated the feasibility of intensive endoscopic resection that is a comprehensive treatment strategy combining multiple kinds of endoscopic treatments. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study. From January 2012 to July 2022, a total of 28 consecutive patients in FAP who underwent endoscopic resection for multiple duodenal polyposis more than twice were included. Various endoscopic treatments, such as cold polypectomy (CP), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), underwater EMR (UEMR), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and endoscopic papillectomy (EP), were applied depending on lesions size and location. We evaluated individual information from patients' medical records, including patient characteristics, lesion characteristics, details of endoscopic treatment, pathologic findings, and Spigelman index (SI). We compared the differences in the number of treatments and observation periods with and without SI decrease. RESULTS: A total of 1040 lesions were removed by 138 sessions of endoscopic resections. The median follow-up period was 3.2 years. At the beginning of the endoscopic intervention, median SI was 9 (6-11) and the proportion of Spigelman stage (SS) IV was 61%. Repeated endoscopic treatments finally reduced SI in 26 patients (93%), and the proportion of SS IV significantly decreased to 13% with every endoscopic treatment. The mean SI change was -4.2 points per year (95% confidence interval: -0.6 to -5.9). There were no patients required surgical duodenectomy during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Intensive resection has a potential of downstaging duodenal lesions associated with FAP.

Detection of outlier prefectures on the mortality due to COVID-19 in Japan.

Japan has suffered from COVID-19 with significant mortality, but its prefectural differences are not well investigated. Since the mortality due to COVID-19 was likely to be associated with the number of infected cases, the population density, and the proportion of the elderly population, we tried to detect the outlier prefectures by multiple linear regression analyses. With the use of the Hampel identifier, we found that Hokkaido and Hyogo were the outlier prefectures with higher mortality after adjusting the variables above. Further studies should delineate the causes of these differences.

Clinical outcomes of COVID-19 caused by the Alpha variant compared with one by wild type in Kobe, Japan. A multi-center nested case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: The emergence of the Alpha variant of novel coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) is a concerning issue but their clinical implications have not been investigated fully. METHODS: We conducted a nested case-control study to compare severity and mortality caused by the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) with the one caused by the wild type as a control from December 2020 to March 2021, using whole-genome sequencing. 28-day mortality and other clinically important outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Infections caused by the Alpha variant were associated with an increase in the use of oxygen (43.4% vs 26.3%. p = 0.017), high flow nasal cannula (21.2% vs 4.0%, p = 0.0007), mechanical ventilation (16.2% vs 6.1%, p = 0.049), ICU care (30.3% vs 14.1%, p = 0.01) and the length of hospital stay (17 vs 10 days, p = 0.031). More patients with the Alpha variant received medications such as dexamethasone. However, the duration of each modality did not differ between the 2 groups. Likewise, there was no difference in 28-day mortality between the 2 groups (12% vs 8%, p = 0.48), even after multiple sensitivity analyses, including propensity score analysis. CONCLUSION: The Alpha variant was associated with a severe form of COVID-19, compared with the non-Alpha wild type, but might not be associated with higher mortality.

Association between hospital-acquired functional decline and 2-year readmission or mortality after cardiac surgery in older patients: a multicenter, prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Hospital-acquired functional decline (HAFD) is a new predictor of poor prognosis in hospitalized older patients. AIMS: We aimed to assess the impact of HAFD on the prognosis of older cardiac surgical patients 2 years after discharge. METHODS: This multicenter prospective cohort study assessed 293 patients with cardiac disease aged ≥ 65 years who underwent cardiac surgery at 7 Japanese hospitals between June 2017 and June 2018. The primary endpoint was the composite outcome of cardiovascular-related readmission and all-cause mortality 2 years after discharge. HAFD was assessed using the total Short Physical Performance Battery at hospital discharge. RESULTS: The primary outcome was observed in 17.3% of the 254 included patients, and HAFD was significantly associated with the primary outcome. Female sex (hazard ratio [HR], 2.451; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.232-4.878; P = 0.011), hemoglobin level (HR, 0.839; 95% CI 0.705-0.997; P = 0.046), preoperative frailty (HR, 2.391; 95% CI 1.029-5.556; P = 0.043), and HAFD (HR, 2.589; 95% CI 1.122-5.976; P = 0.026) were independently associated with the primary outcome. The incidence rate of HAFD was 22%, with female sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.912; 95% CI 1.049-3.485; P = 0.034), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR, 3.958; 95% CI 1.413-11.086; P = 0.009), and the time interval (days) between surgery and the start of ambulation (OR, 1.260, 95% CI 1.057-1.502; P = 0.010) identified as significant factors. DISCUSSION: HAFD was found to be an independent prognostic determinant of the primary outcome 2 years after discharge. CONCLUSION: HAFD prevention should be prioritized in the hospital care of older cardiac surgery patients.

Novel closure method for a large mucosal defect after endoscopic resection: String clip suturing method with an anchor.

Duodenal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a high-risk technique; however, prophylactic closure of mucosal defects reduces the risk. Unfortunately, we have encountered cases where closure is difficult, especially in large lesions. Therefore, we developed a novel closure technique, a string clip suturing method with an anchor (SCSM-A). This study aimed to elucidate the feasibility of this method. Five patients underwent this method for the closure of mucosal defects after duodenal ESD. The initial string clip was deployed at the anal end of the mucosal defects and the second clip was deployed at the other end of the mucosal defect. A third clip was deployed on the muscular layer in the middle of the mucosal defect. The free end of the string was pulled, and additional clips were deployed around the first to the third clips for complete closure. Because of grasping the muscle layer, SCSM-A can be employed for secure closure without creating a pocket. We reviewed the background and clinical course of hospitalization of patients who underwent this method. The resected specimens ranged from 52 to 103 mm in diameter. Complete closure of the mucosal defects was possible in all the cases. There were no adverse events, and no cases required additional treatment. All the patients were discharged within 7 days. The new method achieved secure closure even for large mucosal defects after duodenal ESD. This is a technique that can be applied to other organs, e.g., the colon.

Prospective cross-organ analysis for the causes of fever and increased inflammatory response after endoscopic resection.

OBJECTIVES: Fever and increased inflammatory responses sometimes occur following endoscopic resection (ER). However, the differences in causes according to the organ are scarcely understood, and several modified ER techniques have been proposed. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive prospective study to investigate the cause of fever and increased inflammatory response across multiple organs after ER. METHODS: We included patients who underwent gastrointestinal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and duodenal endoscopic mucosal resection at our hospital between January 2020 and April 2022. Primary endpoints were fever and increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels following ER. The secondary endpoints were risk factors for aspiration pneumonia. Blood tests and radiography were performed on the day after ER, and computed tomography was performed if the cause was unknown. RESULTS: Among the 822 patients included, aspiration pneumonia was the most common cause of fever and increased CRP levels after ER of the upper gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, 53%; stomach, 48%; and duodenum, 71%). Post-ER coagulation syndrome was most common after colorectal ESD (38%). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, lesions located in the esophagus (odds ratio [OR] 3.57; P < 0.001) and an amount of irrigation liquid of ≥1 L (OR 3.71; P = 0.003) were independent risk factors for aspiration pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Aspiration pneumonia was the most common cause of fever after upper gastrointestinal ER and post-ER coagulation syndrome following colorectal ESD. Lesions in the esophagus and an amount of irrigation liquid of ≥1 L were independent risk factors for aspiration pneumonia.

A case report of native vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Cutibacterium modestum.

BACKGROUND: Cutibacterium modestum was named in 2020. C. modestum was previously called Propionibacterium humerusii. Several implant-associated infections caused by Cutibacterium species have been previously reported, but native vertebral osteomyelitis due to these bacteria has rarely been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 72-year-old man, who had previously received several nerve block injections for low back pain, was referred to our hospital for deterioration in back pain in the last 1 month. MRI findings were suggestive of L5-S1 vertebral osteomyelitis. Blood cultures and bone biopsy culture revealed the presence of Gram-positive bacilli. The isolate was identified as C. modestum by 16SrRNA gene sequencing. A diagnosis of vertebral osteomyelitis caused by C. modestum was made. Minocycline followed by oral amoxicillin was administered for 3 months. His symptom improved and did not recur after treatment completion. CONCLUSION: A case of vertebral osteomyelitis caused by C. modestum was encountered. Although C. modestum is very similar to C. acnes, it could be accurately identified by 16SrRNA gene sequencing. This case represents the first documented C. modestum infection in humans.

Red dichromatic imaging reduces bleeding and hematoma during submucosal injection in esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection.

BACKGROUND: Bleeding and hematoma formation during submucosal injection in esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) reduce the visibility of the submucosa. Red dichromatic imaging (RDI) is an endoscopic technique that provides better visualization of the deep submucosal blood vessels. We speculated that blood vessel injury could be avoided with RDI. This pilot study evaluated the role of RDI in preventing bleeding and hematoma formation during esophageal ESD. METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective observational study. We examined 60 patients who underwent ESD with white light imaging (WLI) and RDI. A single endoscopist reviewed all of the surgical videos to document the incidence and severity of bleeding episodes. Eighteen videos provided adequate quality and detail, and the number of blood vessels traversing the mucosal incision lines of the lesions in these videos was evaluated under WLI and RDI. RESULTS: The WLI group had a significantly higher incidence of hematomas per unit area compared to the RDI group (0.18/cm2 [range 0-0.38] vs. 0 [0-0.18]/cm2, p = 0.024). The WLI group also had a significantly higher incidence of total bleeding episodes compared to the RDI group (42.9% [range 21.7-60.4] vs 16.7% [range 13.8-22.9], p < 0.001). Significantly more blood vessels were visible under RDI compared to WLI (5 [range 4-8] vs. 2 [range 1-5], p = 0.0020). CONCLUSION: RDI reduced the incidence of bleeding and hematoma formation during submucosal injection in esophageal ESD. It was assumed that the improvement of blood vessel visibility by RDI might have contributed to the result.

Feasibility of endoscopic resection for large pedunculated duodenal lesions (with video).

BACKGROUND: A standard treatment method for pedunculated duodenal lesions has not yet been established. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of endoscopic resection (ER) for pedunculated duodenal lesions, especially for large lesions. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed cases of pedunculated duodenal lesions treated with ER at our institute between July 2010 and January 2021. We collected data on the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes. In addition, the cases were divided based on the treatment provided for the lesion, i.e., the ESD and snare resection groups, and we compared the data between the two groups. RESULTS: Thirty-eight cases were included in this study. The overall en bloc resection rate was 95%. No perforation occurred in any of the cases. There were 10 cases treated with ESD, which were considered difficult to achieve en bloc resection using snare forceps, and 28 cases treated with snare resection. Although the median lesion size was significantly larger in the ESD group than in the snare resection group (27 [range 23-66] vs. 19 [range 6-55] mm, P = 0.0052), treatment outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups. Among the 10 cases treated using ESD, en bloc resection was achieved in all cases, along with specimen retrieval without any perforations, despite the large size of the lesions. CONCLUSION: ER could be performed to achieve a high en bloc resection rate without any perforations in pedunculated duodenal lesions, even in extremely large (e.g., ≧ 60 mm) lesions, suggesting that ER is feasible and may be an alternative to surgical resection for large pedunculated duodenal lesions.

Sex differences in the prevalence and prognostic impact of physical frailty and sarcopenia among older patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Frailty and sarcopenia are common and confer poor prognosis in elderly patients with heart failure; however, gender differences in its prevalence or prognostic impact remain unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 1332 patients aged ≥65 years, who were hospitalized for heart failure. Frailty and sarcopenia were defined using the Fried phenotype model and Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria, respectively. Gender differences in frailty and sarcopenia, and interactions between sex and prognostic impact of frailty/sarcopenia on 1-year mortality were evaluated. Overall, 53.9% men and 61.0% women and 23.7% men and 14.0% women had frailty and sarcopenia, respectively. Although sarcopenia was more prevalent in men, no gender differences existed in frailty after adjusting for age. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, frailty and sarcopenia were significantly associated with 1-year mortality in both sexes. On Cox proportional hazard analysis, frailty was associated with 1-year mortality only in men, after adjusting for confounding factors (hazard ratio [HR], 1.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-3.16; P = 0.008 for men; HR, 1.63; 95% CI, 0.84-3.13; P = 0.147 for women); sarcopenia was an independent prognostic factor in both sexes (HR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.13-3.31; P = 0.017 for men; HR, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.59-5.64; P = 0.001 for women). There were no interactions between sex and prognostic impact of frailty/sarcopenia (P = 0.806 for frailty; P = 0.254 for sarcopenia). CONCLUSIONS: Frailty and sarcopenia negatively affect older patients with heart failure from both sexes. CLINICAL TRIALS: This study was registered at the University Hospital Information Network (UMIN-CTR, unique identifier: UMIN000023929) before the first patient was enrolled.

Effect of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy on exercise tolerance in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A randomized crossover trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Exercise capacity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is limited by exercise-induced hypoxaemia. This study aimed to examine the effect of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) on exercise tolerance in patients with IPF. METHODS: We conducted a single-centre, open-label, randomized crossover trial to compare HFNC and Venturi mask (VM) therapy in terms of exercise tolerance. Patients underwent constant-load symptom-limited exercise testing at 80% peak work rate with HFNC or a VM in a randomized order. The settings were 60 L/min and a 50% fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2 ) for HFNC and 12 L/min and 50% FiO2 for VM. The primary outcome was endurance time, and the secondary outcomes were heart rate (HR), percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2 ), dyspnoea and leg fatigue, as determined by the modified Borg Scale at the isotime and endpoint, and the level of comfort while using the devices. RESULTS: Twenty-four participants (75.0% men; age, median [interquartile range]: 77.5 [68.8-83.0] years) were enrolled. Compared with VM, HFNC significantly improved the endurance time (647.5 s [454.0-1014.8] vs. 577.5 s [338.0-861.5]), minimum SpO2 (96.0% [95.0-98.0] vs. 94.0% [92.8-96.0]) and leg fatigue at the isotime (3.0 [1.6-4.0] vs. 5.0 [3.0-6.3]) and endpoint (4.0 [2.8-5.0] vs. 5.0 [3.8-6.3]). Differences in maximum HR, dyspnoea at the isotime and endpoint and comfort were non-significant between HFNC and VM therapy. CONCLUSION: HFNC increased exercise tolerance in patients with stable IPF experiencing exercise-induced hypoxaemia.

Long-term use of tedizolid for pulmonary nocardiosis.

Nocardiosis usually occurs in immunocompromised patients and causes infections in various organs, including the lungs, skin, and organs of the central nervous system. Herein, we report the case of a patient with minimal change nephrotic syndrome who had been on immunosuppressive drugs and developed pulmonary nocardiosis due to Nocardia nova complex and Pneumocystis pneumonia. For pulmonary nocardiosis, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, linezolid, and clarithromycin were initiated sequentially, but were subsequently discontinued due to side effects; the treatment was completed with tedizolid. Tedizolid was used safely for 200 out of 286 days of antibiotic treatment, and clinical improvement was observed. Tedizolid is a bacteriostatic oxazolidine antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis, the same mechanism as its predecessor, linezolid. Tedizolid is thought to cause less frequent myelosuppression than linezolid, at least for short-term use. In the future, tedizolid may be a promising alternative to linezolid in cases of nocardiosis that usually require long-term treatment.