Relationship between masseter muscle activity during wakefulness and temporomandibular disorder-related symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Masseter muscle activity during wakefulness may be associated with temporomandibular disorder (TMD)-related symptoms, psychosocial status and pain-related disability; however, this relationship is unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the relationship between masseter muscle electromyography (EMG) burst/duration during wakefulness and TMD-related symptoms, psychosocial status and pain-related disability. METHODS: Sixty participants were assessed masseter muscle activity during wakefulness using a data-logger-type ultraminiature EMG system and TMD-related symptoms, psychosocial status and pain-related disability through Axis I and II of the diagnostic criteria for TMD (DC/TMD). EMG bursts lasting longer than 0.25 s but less than 2.0 s and those lasting longer than 2.0 s were classified as phasic and tonic bursts, respectively. RESULTS: Participants with palpation-related pain in the temporalis and masseter muscles, as assessed through the DC/TMD examination form in Axis I, had more bursts (number/h) (p = .035 and p = .009, respectively) and longer duration (time/h) (p = .013 and p = .004, respectively) of tonic bursts of the masseter muscle during wakefulness. Participants with palpation-related pain in the masseter muscles had higher oral behaviour scores during wakefulness using Axis II (p = .001), which affected the number and duration of tonic bursts of the masseter muscle activity during wakefulness (p = .011 and p = .007, respectively). CONCLUSION: As tonic bursts mainly reflect clenching, individuals with pain in the masseter muscles by palpation may have a high frequency and longer duration of clenching, as well as a high frequency of oral behaviours during wakefulness.

[Challenging Case of Primary Renal Castleman's Disease Accompanied with Bacterial Pyelonephritis].

Castleman's disease is a rare lymphoproliferative disease, mostly found in the mediastinum. The number of Castleman's disease cases involving the kidneys is still limited. We report a case of primary renal Castleman's disease sporadically detected during a regular health check-up as pyelonephritis with ureteral stones. In addition, computed tomography showed renal pelvic and ureteral wall thickening with paraaortic lymphadenopathy. A lymph node biopsy was performed, but it did not confirm either malignancy or Castleman's disease. The patient underwent open nephroureterectomy for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The pathological diagnosis was renal and retroperitoneal lymph node Castleman's disease with pyelonephritis.

[The Effect of Naldemedine Tosylate on the Postoperative Course of Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy].

Radical cystectomy is an invasive procedure frequently followed by postoperative complications. Although the protocol of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is used in the postoperative course, several components of the ERAS protocol may increase the workload of medical workers. In this study, we added naldemedine tosylate only to routine postoperative management instead of using the ERAS protocol and evaluated the effect on the postoperative course of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). We retrospectively investigated 58 patients who underwent RARC from May 2015 to February 2022 at our hospital and evaluated the postoperative complications, such as ileus and urinary tract infections, and, length of hospital stay (LOS). We used naldemedine tosylate for the patients who underwent RARC after November 2019. As a result, naldemedine tosylate reduced 26.8% of postoperative complications within 30 days after the operation (p＝0.041) and shortened LOS 8 days (p＝0.018). Naldemesine tosylate improved the postoperative course of RARC.

[Efficacy of Combination Chemotherapy of Gemcitabine and Nedaplatin for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Urinary Tract : Experience of Four Cases].

We report the use of combination chemotherapy of gemcitabine (800 mg/m² on day1 and 8) and nedaplatin (60 mg/m² on day 1), including neoadjuvant therapy in four cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary tract. In each case, the dose was reduced after assessing the performance status and renal function of the patient. Among the four cases, the best overall outcome was complete response in one case, partial response in two cases, and stable disease in one case. The main adverse event observed was thrombocytopenia; however, no serious adverse events were observed, and this regimen was safely administered. Therefore, we believe that this regimen could be an effective treatment option for progressive squamous cell carcinoma originating from the urinary tract.

[A Case of Primary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Retroperitoneum].

In this case report, we describe a case of primary retroperitoneal neuroendocrine carcinoma. An 85- year-old man presented with a 3-week history of left back pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed an 8×5 cm mass to the left of the aorta and multiple hepatic metastases. Immunohistochemistry staining of the tumor cells showed positivity for the neuroendocrine marker synaptophysin and a very high Ki67 proliferation index. He was treated with carboplatin and etoposide. After 2 courses of chemotherapy, the mass had decreased in size, confirming that the treatment was effective. We plan to administer a total of 6 courses of chemotherapy.

Effects of intra-oesophageal acid infusion and a stress task on masseter muscle activity and autonomic nervous activity in wakefulness.

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease may be an important risk factor for awake bruxism. Additionally, it has been known that a psychological stress task affects masseter muscle activity, and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity modulation induces masseter muscle activity. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate whether task-induced stress and experimental oesophageal acid infusion increase masseter muscle activity and alter ANS activity, compared to rest task and oesophageal saline infusion, respectively. METHODS: Polygraphic monitoring, consisting of electromyography of the masseter muscle and electrocardiography, was performed in 12 healthy adult men during 30-min interventions with intra-oesophageal saline or acid infusion, while reading a book quietly, as rest, and while performing calculation, as a stress task. RESULTS: At rest, masseter muscle activity and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity during acid infusion were significantly higher (P = .019) and lower (P = .021) than during saline infusion, respectively. During saline infusion, both masseter muscle activity and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity or PNS activity while performing the calculation task were higher (P = .022 and .012, respectively) or lower (P = .007) than those during the reading task, respectively. In two-way repeated-measures ANOVA, intra-oesophageal infusion (saline or acid) significantly affected masseter muscle activity (P = .008) and PNS activity (P = .021). However, performing tasks (reading or calculation) significantly affected only PNS activity (P = .028). CONCLUSION: Intra-oesophageal acid infusion significantly increased masseter muscle activity and decreased PNS activity. In contrast, stress task not only significantly decreased PNS activity, but only modestly increased masseter muscle activity and SNS activity.

Sterile versus non-sterile gloves during cystoscopy: A randomized prospective single-blind study.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the need for sterile gloves during cystoscopy by comparing the incidence of UTI symptoms between patients in whom the procedure is performed with non-sterile gloves with those performed with non-sterile gloves. Patients and Methods: This study had a randomized, prospective, single-blind design and included patients aged >20 years who underwent cystoscopy in either of two outpatient clinics between September 2015 and November 2021. The patients were allocated to a sterile group or a non-sterile group. Only the urologists were aware of whether or not the gloves were sterile. The patients were instructed to report any symptoms suggestive of UTI after cystoscopy. Results: A total of 1258 patients were enrolled in the sterile group and 1376 in the non-sterile group. Symptoms of UTI were reported by six patients (0.48%) in the sterile group and six (0.44%) in the non-sterile group. The between-group difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.88). Conclusion: It is not necessary to use sterile gloves during routine cystoscopy.

Triple combination therapy for clinically nonmetastatic super-high-risk prostate cancer.

Introduction: Patients with nonmetastatic but exceptionally high-risk prostate cancer are liable to have biochemical failure and may even die. Triple combination therapy, which consists of surgery, radiotherapy, and androgen-deprivation therapy, as first-line treatment, may control the disease for a long period. Case presentation: We treated a patient with super-high-risk, nonmetastatic prostate cancer, with triple combination therapy. He was biochemical relapse free at 60 months after the initiation of treatment. Conclusion: Triple combination therapy may be an option for super-high-risk, nonmetastatic prostate cancer.