Pediatric duodenal stenosis caused by posttraumatic mesenteric hematoma managed with a double elementary diet tube.

A 6-year-old male child was admitted to the hospital because of abdominal trauma and acute stomach pain. Computed tomography scan revealed a jejunal mesenteric hematoma and an enhanced intestinal wall compressed by the hematoma. The patient presented with vomiting 10 days after the injury. He underwent upper endoscopy under tracheal intubation and general anesthesia 12 days after the injury. A double elementary diet tube was inserted endoscopically with the tip placed in the jejunum beyond the stenosis and the decompressed portion of the stomach. Stenosis was improving, and the patient was discharged on the 27th day after the injury. In conclusion, a double elementary diet tube can be effective for treating posttraumatic duodenal stenosis in pediatric patients.

Skipping Breakfast and Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in the General Japanese Population: the Iki City Epidemiological Study of Atherosclerosis and Chronic Kidney Disease (ISSA-CKD).

INTRODUCTION: Breakfast-skipping habits are associated with adverse health outcomes including coronary heart disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus. However, it remains uncertain whether skipping breakfast affects chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk. This study aimed to examine the association between skipping breakfast and progression of CKD. METHODS: We retrospectively conducted a population-based cohort study using the data from the Iki City Epidemiological Study of Atherosclerosis and Chronic Kidney Disease (ISSA-CKD). Between 2008 and 2019, we included 922 participants aged 30 years or older who had CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73m2 and/or proteinuria) at baseline. Breakfast-skippers were defined as participants who skipped breakfast more than 3 times per week. The outcome was CKD progression defined as a decline of at least 30% in the eGFR from the baseline status. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CKD progression, adjusted for other CKD risk factors. RESULTS: During a follow-up period with a mean of 5.5 years, CKD progression occurred in 60 (6.5%) participants. The incidence rate (per 1,000 person-years) of CKD progression was 21.5 in the breakfast-skipping group and 10.7 in the breakfast-eating group (p=0.029), respectively. The multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CI) for CKD progression was 2.60 (95% CI 1.29‒5.26) for the breakfast-skipping group (p=0.028) compared with the group eating breakfast. There were no clear differences in the association of skipping breakfast with CKD progression in subgroup analyses by sex, age, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, baseline eGFR and baseline proteinuria. CONCLUSION: Skipping breakfast was significantly associated with higher risk of CKD progression in the general Japanese population.

Tardive Peritonitis After Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Pancreatic Pseudocyst Drainage: A Case Report.

Here, we report a case of tardive peritonitis after endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided transmural pancreatic pseudocyst drainage. A 50-year-old man was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and a pancreatic pseudocyst measuring 5 cm. Ten months later, his pancreatic pseudocyst was 10 cm. We performed EUS-guided transmural drainage using a lumen-apposing metal stent. After two months, the stent was replaced with a double-pigtail plastic stent. Two months later, the patient developed fever and abdominal pain, and computed tomography revealed abdominal free air. He was diagnosed with peritonitis due to free air caused by a fistula rupture. The double-pigtail plastic stent was removed, and clipping was performed at the fistula site to achieve closure. The patient's symptoms subsequently improved. Long-term placement of a plastic stent for pancreatic pseudocysts makes recurrence less likely, but late adverse events due to stent placement can occur. Notably, fistula rupture can occur even when the fistula is well-formed several months after the initial drainage.

Stent Deployment Without Tract Dilation in Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Hepaticogastrostomy Using a Novel Partially Covered Metal Stent With a Super-Slim Stent Delivery System: A Case Report.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy is performed when transpapillary biliary drainage using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is difficult due to surgically altered anatomy, an inaccessible papilla, or difficult biliary cannulation. This procedure consists of puncturing the intrahepatic bile duct from the stomach, inserting a guidewire into the bile duct, dilating the puncture tract, and placing a stent. Recently, a novel partially covered self-expandable metal stent with a super-slim stent delivery system of 5.9 Fr has become available. With this stent, endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy can be performed without using a dilator to expand the puncture tract. Herein, we describe a technique for dilator-free stent deployment for endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy using this novel stent. We performed an endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy with this stent in a 65-year-old patient with obstructive jaundice due to pancreatic head cancer without adverse events and with satisfactory improvement in jaundice. This procedure is expected to reduce bile leakage into the abdominal cavity and shorten the procedure time.

Accidental Hypothermia-Induced J Wave Coupled With Giant R Wave Augmented by Premature Atrial Contraction: A Case Report.

The 12-lead electrocardiographic findings in hypothermia include the presence of J waves; prolongation of the PR, QRS, and QT intervals; and atrial and ventricular dysrhythmias. Among these findings, the J wave, known as the Osborn wave, is considered pathognomonic. In 1953, the J wave was reported as a specific response to hypothermia in dogs, representing the current at the site of injury instead of a widening of the QRS complex that occurs caused by a conduction delay. The J wave is often accompanied by ventricular fibrillation. For the past 28 years, it was assumed that the hypothermia-induced J wave was mediated by the transient outward current. However, it was recently been reported that the J waves in some patients with hypothermia can be considered delayed conduction-related waveforms. Here, we present a case of hypothermia-induced J waves together with giant R waves, which have not been previously reported during hypothermia, augmented by short RR intervals arising from premature atrial contractions. Our observations indicate that the underlying mechanism for the genesis of J waves is indeed conduction delay and not transient outward currents.

Comparison of Bond Strength Between Two Resin Cement Types and Additive Manufacturing or Cast Cobalt-Chromium Alloys.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the bond strength of two types of resin cement to that of additive manufacturing (AM) or cast cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloys. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two types of resin luting cement, composite resin and methyl methacrylate (MMA), were bonded to AM or cast Co-Cr alloys, and shear bond tests were performed after seven days of storage in distilled water at 37°C. Co-Cr alloy adhesive elements AM to the enamel surface of the labial aspect of a bovine mandibular central incisor crown were bonded with two types of resin luting cement and subjected to 1,000 cycles of storage in water for one day and 28 days or thermal cycling, followed by shear bonding tests. Residual cement on the metal and enamel surfaces after the bonding tests was evaluated using an optical microscope. The normality of the results was evaluated using statistical software Statcel4, analysis of variance, or Kruskal-Wallis test, depending on normality, and multiple comparison tests were performed using the Tukey-Kramer or Steel-Dwass tests. RESULTS: After one day, the shear bond strength (SBS) was 25.9 MPa for Panavia V5 (PV; Kuraray Noritake Dental Corporation, Niigata, Japan) and 23.5 MPa for Super-Bond (SB; Sun Medical Corporation, Shiga, Japan), with no significant difference between the two cement types (P > 0.05). After 28 days, the SBS decreased to 4.1 MPa for PV and 6.7 MPa for SB, showing a significant difference between the two cements (P < 0.05). Following 1,000 thermal cycles, the SBS was 2.0 MPa for PV and 5.6 MPa for SB, with SB exhibiting a significantly higher value (P < 0.05). The adhesive strength was significantly lower after 28 days of storage and thermal cycling compared to after one day of storage (P < 0.05). The Co-Cr alloy exhibited more residual cement on the enamel surface due to interfacial fracture with the resin cement. The Co-Cr alloy showed more residual cement on the enamel surface due to interfacial fracture with the resin cement. CONCLUSION: MMA-based resin cement showed optimal bond strength and may be suitable for clinical use in computer-aided design (CAD)/computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) orthodontic appliances.

Downsloping TP Segment in the Precordial Leads on a Standard 12-lead Electrocardiogram: Suspected Cardiac Impulse-tapping Artifact.

We herein report an 80-year-old man showing a downsloping TP segment together with an increase in the height of the T wave in the precordial leads on a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). Separately, an 87-year-old woman showed only a downsloping TP segment in the precordial leads on a standard 12-lead ECG. Neither patient reported chest pain or dyspnea when ECGs was obtained. This downsloping TP segment in the precordial leads on the standard 12-lead ECG is thought to be due to a cardiac impulse-tapping artifact. Differential diagnoses are also discussed.

Bilateral isolated coronary ostial stenosis in a middle-aged premenopausal woman with vasospastic angina: a case report.

Background: Vasospastic angina (VSA) is uncommon in premenopausal women who have less chronic endothelial injury causing vascular remodelling, considered to play a primary role in the pathogenesis for coronary vasospasms. Furthermore, vasospasms rarely occur in the bilateral coronary ostia. Isolated coronary ostial stenosis (ICOS), which often causes severe effort angina and requires surgical intervention, is more commonly reported in middle-aged women, with causes including fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) and large-vessel vasculitis. However, ICOS associated with VSA is extremely rare. Case summary: A 50-year-old premenopausal Japanese woman presented with a complaint of typical chest pain due to angina during light exertion daily in the early morning hours since 3 years. Coronary angiography (CAG) revealed bilateral mild-to-moderate ICOS in addition to multi-vessel spasms involving the bilateral coronary ostia confirmed by the vasospasm provocation test using intracoronary acetylcholine injection. Tests to determine the cause of ICOS did not identify FMD or any other disease. The angina attacks alleviated after calcium channel blocker (CCB) administration without intervention for bilateral ICOS for 24 years since the first presentation. Moreover, coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) performed 24 years after the first presentation showed no ICOS. Discussion: In our patient with typical and frequent VSA symptoms, CAG revealed both mild-to-moderate ICOS and the vasospasms in the bilateral coronary ostia. Fibromuscular dysplasia or large-vessel vasculitis was ruled out as the causes of ICOS. Vasospastic angina rarely occurred after the prescription of CCB, and coronary CTA 24 years after the first presentation showed no ICOS. Bilateral ICOS in our patient might be VSA related.

Real-world anti-seizure treatment and adverse events among individuals living with drug-resistant focal epilepsy in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand how people living with drug-resistant focal epilepsy (DRE) navigate through lines of antiseizure medications (ASM) and experience adverse events (AEs) in the real-world setting in the United States. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with medical chart data from clinical practices in the United States. Eligible adults had a confirmed diagnosis of DRE and initiated a third-line ASM therapy between January 2013 and January 2020 (i.e., the index date). Subjects must have medical history data available for ≥1 year prior to (the baseline) and ≥2 years after the index date (the follow-up). Treatment patterns were captured from first to fourth lines. After the emergence of drug resistance, time to ASM discontinuation, reasons for discontinuation, AE experience and AE management were reported separately during third and fourth lines of treatment and beyond. RESULTS: The study included a total of 345 individuals, with an average (standard deviation) age of 23.9 (11.9) years at first diagnosis. All individuals had at least three lines of ASMs with first and second lines during baseline, and third line during follow-up. The first line for most individuals was monotherapy. As individuals progressed through additional lines of ASM therapy, they were more likely to receive polytherapy. The regimens were more individualized after meeting drug resistance criteria. The top reasons for discontinuing were uncontrolled seizure and/or intolerance/AEs for both third and subsequent lines. More than a third of individuals experienced at least one AE. Among those with at least one AE, many individuals had to manage these AEs with dose adjustment (39.4%), discontinuation of offending ASM (37.9%), de novo pharmacotherapy (25.8%), emergency room visit (13.6%), and hospitalization (12.1%). SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrated that individuals living with DRE experience significant AEs, and many of these AEs lead to treatment disruption and significant healthcare resource utilization. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: This study examined how individuals with focal epilepsy are treated across various clinics in United States and reported the adverse events these individuals experienced during treatment, along with the consequence associated with these adverse events. We found that as individuals progressed through additional treatments, they were more and more likely to receive more than one antiseizure medication, and a significant portion of individuals experienced at least one adverse event, often manifested as headache, somnolence, dizziness, and fatigue.

Discovery of a Plant 14-3-3 Inhibitor Possessing Isoform Selectivity and In Planta Activity.

Synthetic modulators of plant 14-3-3s are promising chemical tools both for understanding the 14-3-3-related signaling pathways and controlling plant physiology. Herein, we describe a novel small-molecule inhibitor for 14-3-3 proteins of Arabidopsis thaliana. The inhibitor was identified from unexpected products in a stock solution in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) of an in-house chemical library. Mass spectroscopy, mutant-based analyses, fluorescence polarization assays, and thermal shift assays revealed that the inhibitor covalently binds to an allosteric site of 14-3-3 with isoform selectivity. Moreover, infiltration of the inhibitor to Arabidopsis leaves suppressed the stomatal aperture. The inhibitor should provide new insight into the design of potent and isoform-selective 14-3-3 modulators.

"Loss of Bone Signal" on 99m Tc-Labeled Pyrophosphate Scintigraphy in a Patient With Wild-Type Transthyretin Amyloidosis.

ABSTRACT: 99m Tc-3,3-diphosphono-1,2-propanedicarboxylic acid (DPD) scintigraphy and 99m Tc-pyrophosphate (PYP) scintigraphy are highly sensitive modalities for imaging both myocardial and extracardiac amyloid transthyretin in patients with wild-type transthyretin (ATTRwt) amyloidosis. "Loss of bone signal" on planar imaging of 99m Tc-DPD scintigraphy, in which the tracer uptake in bone is obscured by marked tracer uptake in the overlying skeletal muscles, is reported. However, this phenomenon has not yet been documented on 99m Tc-PYP scintigraphy. We describe an 89-year-old woman with ATTRwt amyloidosis in whom "loss of bone signal" together with marked tracer uptake into the skeletal muscles was clearly demonstrated on 99m Tc-PYP scan.

Salivary gland-type cancers: cross-organ demographics of a rare cancer.

BACKGROUND: Salivary gland-type cancers (SGTCs) are histologically heterogeneous and can affect organs other than the salivary glands. Some tumors outside the salivary glands are diagnosed on their unique histological characteristics. Comprehensive cross-organ studies on SGTCs are limited. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with salivary duct carcinoma (SDC), adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC), acinic cell carcinoma (AcCC), and polymorphous adenocarcinoma (PAC) who visited our institution between 2009 and 2019. The primary tumor sites were classified into four categories; major salivary glands, head/neck (H/N) excluding (exc) major salivary glands (MSG) regions, broncho-pulmonary regions, and "others". H/N exc MSG was further divided into three subcategories, nasal/paranasal sinus, oral and pharynx/larynx. RESULTS: We identified 173 patients with SGTCs, with SDC, AdCC, MEC, EMC, AcCC, and PAC accounting for 20%, 42%, 27%, 3%, 8%, and 1% of the cases, respectively. The most frequent primary site was the major salivary glands (64%), followed by H/N exc MSG regions (27%), broncho-pulmonary regions, and "others", thus non-salivary gland origins accounted for 9% of all cases. Patients with SDC, MEC, AcCC, or SGTC of the major salivary glands and broncho-pulmonary regions were more frequently treated by surgery. The overall survival time of the patients with MEC was significantly better than that of patients with SDC or EMC. CONCLUSIONS: This cross-organ study highlights the clinical significance of SGTCs, underscoring the need for developing novel therapies for this rare disease entity.

Asymptomatic Pneumoperitoneum With a Large Amount of Gas Appeared During Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage.

We report a case in which a large amount of intraperitoneal free gas developed during endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage with the rendezvous technique. A 62-year-old woman presented with obstructive jaundice caused by a pancreatic head tumor. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was attempted but failed due to difficulty cannulating the bile duct. Consequently, endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy was performed using a fully covered metal stent. Subsequently, the rendezvous technique was employed to access the biliary system and perform an endoscopic sphincterotomy. Finally, a fully covered metal stent was placed transpapillary. Fluoroscopic imaging during the procedure revealed a large amount of gas between the liver and diaphragm. Despite the pneumoperitoneum, the patient experienced no abdominal pain or fever. One week later, a computed tomography scan confirmed the disappearance of free air in the intraperitoneal cavity. The patient's subsequent clinical course remained uneventful, and she was discharged from the hospital. This case highlights the potential for pneumoperitoneum to develop during endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage, particularly when using the rendezvous technique. It is crucial to differentiate this finding from gastrointestinal perforation based on clinical presentation and imaging features.

Parathyroid Hormone-Related Peptide-Producing Gallbladder Cancer Presenting With Humoral Hypercalcemia of Malignancy: A Case Report.

Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) is often reported in cancers derived from the squamous epithelium; however, there are very few reports of HHM in patients with gallbladder cancer. We report a case of a parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP)-producing gallbladder cancer presenting with HHM. A 43-year-old woman presented with appetite loss, nausea, and brown-colored urine. Blood tests revealed that she had hypercalcemia, high serum bilirubin, and high serum parathyroid hormone. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a gallbladder tumor, liver metastasis, and bile duct obstruction caused by the gallbladder tumor in the hilar region. No bone metastasis was observed. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed pancreaticobiliary maljunction. Metal biliary stents were placed, and a transpapillary biopsy of the gallbladder tumor revealed a pathological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. The patient was diagnosed with HHM due to gallbladder cancer with liver metastasis. Although her hypercalcemia and jaundice improved, her appetite loss and nausea did not improve. Subsequently, the patient developed disseminated intravascular coagulation, and her general condition gradually deteriorated. Due to her poor general condition, chemotherapy could not be administered. The patient died six weeks after visiting our hospital. Although rare, some gallbladder cancers cause HHM due to PTHrP production.

Relationship between abdominal circumference and the incidence of hyperuricemia in the general Japanese population.

In this study, we aimed to separately evaluate the relationship between waist circumference and the incidence of hyperuricemia in men and women in the general Japanese population. We performed a population-based longitudinal study using data from the annual health examination of residents of Iki City, Japan. A total of 5567 participants without hyperuricemia at baseline were included in the analysis. The men and women were placed into groups according to the tertile of waist circumference. The outcome was incident hyperuricemia (uric acid > 416 µmol/L [7.0 mg/dL]). The relationship between waist circumference and the incidence of hyperuricemia was investigated using Cox proportional hazards models. During the follow-up period, hyperuricemia developed in 697 people (551 men and 146 women). The incidence (per 1000 person-years) of hyperuricemia increased with increasing waist circumference in the men (34.9 for tertile 1, 49.9 for tertile 2 and 63.3 for tertile 3; Ptrend < 0.001) and women (5.5 for tertile 1, 6.3 for tertile 2 and 11.9 for tertile 3; Ptrend < 0.001). Significant associations were identified after adjustment for potential confounders (men: Ptrend < 0.001; women: Ptrend = 0.014). In conclusion, both men and women with larger waist circumferences were at higher risks of subsequent hyperuricemia.

Phosphorylation of plasma membrane H+-ATPase Thr881 participates in light-induced stomatal opening.

Plasma membrane (PM) H+-ATPase is crucial for light-induced stomatal opening and phosphorylation of a penultimate residue, Thr948 (pen-Thr, numbering according to Arabidopsis AHA1) is required for enzyme activation. In this study, a comprehensive phosphoproteomic analysis using guard cell protoplasts from Vicia faba shows that both red and blue light increase the phosphorylation of Thr881, of PM H+-ATPase. Light-induced stomatal opening and the blue light-induced increase in stomatal conductance are reduced in transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing mutant AHA1-T881A in aha1-9, whereas the blue light-induced phosphorylation of pen-Thr is unaffected. Auxin and photosynthetically active radiation induce the phosphorylation of both Thr881 and pen-Thr in etiolated seedlings and leaves, respectively. The dephosphorylation of phosphorylated Thr881 and pen-Thr are mediated by type 2 C protein phosphatase clade D isoforms. Taken together, Thr881 phosphorylation, in addition of the pen-Thr phosphorylation, are important for PM H+-ATPase function during physiological responses, such as light-induced stomatal opening in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Penetration of duodenal wall by proximal end of biliary straight plastic stent in a patient with ampullary carcinoma.

A 70-year-old woman presented to our hospital with abdominal discomfort. Gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an ampullary tumor, while a biopsy revealed a pathological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. No distant metastases were observed and neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection were planned. Shortly thereafter, she developed obstructive jaundice due to the ampullary carcinoma. The patient underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, during which a straight plastic stent was placed in the bile duct. The patient was discharged without complications. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was initiated. Two months later, she was readmitted for surgery while asymptomatic. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was scheduled to replace the stent with a nasobiliary drainage tube for the surgery. Endoscopic imaging revealed that the proximal end of the stent had penetrated the duodenum on the oral side of the ampullary carcinoma. The distal end of the stent was grasped with forceps and the stent was successfully removed. A catheter was inserted into the bile duct orifice and cholangiography was performed, which revealed that the distal bile duct and the duodenum had formed a fistula. A guidewire was placed in the bile duct via the papilla and a nasobiliary drainage tube was placed. After endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, the patient exhibited smooth progress without issue. Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed on the fourth day after the nasobiliary drainage tube placement, and the patient's postoperative course was uneventful. The proximal end of a biliary stent penetrating the duodenal wall is an infrequent phenomenon. This case report highlights a rare but noteworthy adverse event associated with straight biliary plastic stent placement.

The impact of vascular division sequence and epithelial-mesenchymal transition status on postoperative recurrence in lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The vascular division sequence in video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lung resection is usually determined by the handling difficulty due to the limited surgical view through the scope. However, upfront pulmonary vein division is theoretically desirable to avoid tumor cells spreading by surgical manipulation. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with poor prognosis and an increased number of circulating tumor cells. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of vascular division sequence and EMT on postoperative recurrence. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated tissue microarrays of 282 lung adenocarcinomas surgically resected between 2001 and 2007. We excluded the cases with segmentectomy, wedge resection, dissemination, insufficient material for staining, or lack of medical records. The effect of vascular division sequence and clinicopathologic factors on recurrence was evaluated in 195 cases. RESULTS: The upfront pulmonary vein division (V-first) was performed in 60 patients, and the upfront pulmonary artery division (A-first) was performed in 135 patients. The recurrence was observed in 67 patients (13 in V-first and 54 in A-first). Epithelial-mesenchymal transition activation was observed in 104 patients. Multivariable analysis with 195 patients revealed that lymph node metastasis and pleural invasion were risk factors for the recurrence. The stratified multivariable analysis showed that vascular division sequence (A-first) was a risk factor only in the EMT-negative group (91 patients). In the EMT-negative subset, the 5-year relapse-free survival rate was significantly lower in the A-first group than the V-first group (72.6% vs. 92.2%, p = 0.0136). CONCLUSIONS: The upfront pulmonary artery division might be a risk factor in patients without EMT activation.

Technetium-99m-pyrophosphate imaging-based computed tomography-guided core-needle biopsy of internal oblique muscle in wild-type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: Technetium-99m-pyrophosphate (99mTc-PYP) uptake in the internal oblique muscle (IOM), which is often observed in patients with wild-type transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA), indicates amyloid transthyretin (ATTR) deposition. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of 99mTc-PYP imaging-based computed tomography (CT)-guided core-needle biopsy of the IOM as a new extracardiac screening biopsy for confirming the presence of ATTR deposits. METHODS: Patients with suspected ATTR-CA in whom myocardial tracer uptake was detected on chest- and abdomen-centered images of 99mTc-PYP scintigraphy underwent CT-guided core-needle biopsy at the site with the highest tracer uptake in the IOM between September 2021 and November 2022. RESULTS: All 18 consecutive patients (mean age, 86.3 years ± 6.5; 61.1% male) enrolled in the study showed 99mTc-PYP uptake into the IOM. Adequate tissue samples were obtained from all patients except one without serious complications. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed ATTR deposits in 16/18 (88.9%) patients. In the remaining two patients, ATTR deposits were observed via endomyocardial biopsy. All patients were diagnosed with wild-type ATTR-CA based on transthyretin gene sequence testing results. CONCLUSION: In wild-type ATTR-CA, 99mTc-PYP imaging-based CT-guided core-needle biopsy of the IOM could be used as an extracardiac screening biopsy to confirm the presence of ATTR deposits.

Dysbiosis of Gut Microbiota in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Objective The gut bacterial microbiota is altered in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the bacterial composition at each stage of CKD is unclear in these patients, including those receiving renal replacement therapy. We herein report the changes in the gut microbiota among patients with CKD. Methods A total of 93 individuals were recruited for the study. Seventy-three patients had stage 3-5 CKD, including those receiving renal replacement therapy (CKD group), and 20 were age- and sex-matched controls (CKD stage 1-2). The gut microbiome composition was analyzed using a 16S ribosomal RNA gene-based sequencing protocol. Results At the genus level, the butyrate-producing bacteria Lachnospira, Blautia, Coprococcus, Anaerostipes, and Roseburia were more abundant in the control group (linear discriminant analysis score of >3) than in the CKD group. Lachnospira was more abundant in the control group than in patients with CKD stage 3a. Compared to the control group, multiplex butyrate-producing bacteria were deficient in patients with CKD stage 3b-5D, including in patients receiving renal replacement therapy. Conclusion Our findings highlight the fact that the gut bacterial composition, including butyrate-producing bacteria, deteriorates from CKD stage 3b. Even after renal replacement therapy, the bacterial composition did not change.