Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Springer Science and Business Media LLC  

DOI： 10.1007/s11748-023-01928-5

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This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy in preventing emergence agitation (EA) in children. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted across multiple locations according to the articles searched. Seven databases, including trial registration sites, were searched. A total of six trials were included involving 489 patients; of them, 244 received acupuncture therapy. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the incidence of EA compared with placebo/sham or standard care in children were included. The primary outcome was the incidence of EA, as evaluated using a specific assessment tool. Data about the incidence rate of EA, heterogeneity, quality of trials and evidence, and adverse events were collected. Additionally, data about patient demographic characteristics, type of anesthesia, duration and onset of acupuncture therapy, EA and pain score, time taken for extubation, and post-anesthesia care unit length of stay were collected. The results indicated that the overall incidence of EA in the acupuncture therapy group and the control group was 23.4% and 39.5%, respectively, with no significant difference (risk ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-1.48; I2 = 63%). Subgroup analysis showed a significant difference in the overall incidence of EA in the acupuncture therapy and control groups according to surgery type (high-risk vs. low-risk surgery), suggesting that acupuncture therapy may be effective in reducing EA for patients undergoing high-risk surgery. The quality of evidence was downgraded to "very low" due to the study designs, inconsistency, and possible publication bias. In conclusion, this meta-analysis shows that the currently available RCTs are insufficient to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy in preventing EA in children undergoing general anesthesia.

DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0286790

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INTRODUCTION: Varicocelectomy is well known to improve the pregnancy outcome of patients with clinical varicoceles in assisted reproductive technologies as well as spontaneous conception. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the additional effects of oral antioxidant therapy after varicocelectomy on the pregnancy outcome in the assisted reproductive technology setting. METHODS: This study was a retrospective cohort study. The subjects were couples among whom the male partner had undergone varicocelectomy and was scheduled for subsequent assisted reproductive technology. Pregnancy outcomes were followed retrospectively in 62 couples with male partners who received tocopherol (antioxidant group) and 37 couples who did not (control group). The tocopherol and control groups were assigned dependent on the decision of the physician in charge and the patient's request. The clinical pregnancy rates per couple and embryo transfer, time to pregnancy, and the number of cycles during transfer to pregnancy were evaluated. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the pregnancy rate per couple (antioxidant group 70.9% vs. control group 64.9%, P = 0.55) and per embryo transfer (50.4% vs. 39.6%, P = 0.22). Regarding the time to event analyzed by adjusted restricted mean survival time, the mean time to pregnancy was significantly shorter in the antioxidant (tocopherol) group (14.2 vs. 17.4 months, P = 0.025). No significant difference was observed in the embryo transfer cycle to pregnancy (mean embryo transfer cycles: 2.6 vs. 3.0, P = 0.238). CONCLUSIONS: Additional oral tocopherol nicotinate as antioxidant therapy after varicocelectomy was shown to shorten the time to pregnancy. It is recommended that add-on effects be tested in more well-designed randomized controlled trials to examine whether it improves assisted reproductive outcomes.

DOI： 10.3389/frph.2023.1325566

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Public Library of Science (PLoS)  

Pain, autonomic distress, and emergence agitation occur commonly in children undergoing general anesthesia. While acupuncture therapy has been reported to effectively reduce such pain and autonomic distress in children, its effect in preventing emergence agitation remains unclear. Therefore, we will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis to evaluate the effect of acupuncture therapy in preventing emergence agitation in children undergoing general anesthesia. Methods and analysis This protocol was prepared according to the 2015 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) for Protocols guidelines. We will conduct a search for randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effect of acupuncture therapy in preventing emergence agitation. The following databases will be searched for relevant articles: MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Embase, and Web of Science; four pre-registration sites will be accessed from inception to April 1, 2021. No language restrictions will be applied. Two authors will independently scan and select eligible studies, extract the data, and assess the risk of bias. The incidence of emergence agitation will be combined as a risk ratio with a 95% confidence interval using a random-effect model. The I² statistics will be used to assess heterogeneity. We will evaluate the quality of the clinical trials using the Cochrane methodology and assess the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. If appropriate, a trial sequential analysis will be performed. Expected outcomes This meta-analysis will be the first to evaluate the effect of acupuncture therapy in preventing emergence agitation in children. The findings from this meta-analysis have the potential to reveal pivotal factors that affect the clinical effect of acupuncture therapy, thereby supporting the optimization of acupuncture therapy for emergence agitation.

Protocol registration University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000040775).

DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0264197

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Springer Science and Business Media LLC  

Abstract

The positional relationship between cartilage defects and the meniscus is poorly understood for osteoarthritis of the knee. Our purpose was to clarify how cartilage defects extend and their association with the meniscus location during osteoarthritis progression. The subjects were women in their 70 s who were registered in the Kanagawa Knee Study. We obtained 3D MRI images of the tibial surfaces with menisci in subjects with cartilage area ratios < 0.95 and examined the morphological association between cartilage defects and the medial meniscus (MM) by viewing the defects according to the cartilage area ratio at the medial tibial region. Of the 561 Kanagawa Knee Study subjects, 45 were included in the analyses, and 11 had a cartilage area ratio < 0.95 at the medial tibia. Significant differences were observed in the localization of cartilage defects among 9 subregions, with cartilage defects occurring predominantly in the middle external subregion. The inner margin of the MM contacted the cartilage defect in 7 knees and crossed the cartilage defect in 4 knees but was never found separated from the cartilage defect. The cartilage defects occurred from the middle external subregion and extended to the surrounding area without separating from the inner margin of the MM.

Trial registration UMIN, UMIN000032826; 1 September 2018.

DOI： 10.1038/s41598-022-08092-5

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Other Link： https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-08092-5

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Springer Science and Business Media LLC  

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy of prednisolone and cyclosporine and corticosteroid pulse therapy in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, multicenter, randomized, non-inferiority trial. METHODS: Patients of new-onset acute VKH disease at 11 centers in Japan between 2014 and 2018 were randomized to a combination (oral prednisolone 60 mg daily with gradual taper-off to 35 mg/day and cyclosporine 3 mg/kg/day) and corticosteroid (methylprednisolone 1000 mg for 3 days followed by oral prednisolone) groups, and were followed for 1 year. RESULTS: Thirty-four were assigned to the combination and thirty-six patients to the corticosteroid group. Recurrence/worsening risk was 0.15 (95% confidence-interval [CI] 0.03-0.27) in the combination group and 0.25 (95% CI 0.11-0.39) in the corticosteroid group, with a risk difference of - 0.10 (90% CI - 0.27 to 0.06), demonstrating non-inferiority of the combination group with a non-inferiority margin of 0.20 (P = 0.0013). Serious adverse events occurred in three patients (two with hyponatremia and one with severe headaches) in the combination group and none in the corticosteroid group. Sunset glow fundus grades and cataract rates at 1 year were 0.57 (95% CI 0.42-71) and 4.3% in the combination group and 0.91 (95% CI 0.78-1.04) and 34.0% in the corticosteroid group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Combination therapy was noninferior to corticosteroid therapy with respect to recurrence/worsening risk. Notably, the recurrence/worsening risk, sunset glow fundus grade, and cataract rate were lower in the combination group than in the corticosteroid group.

DOI： 10.1007/s10384-021-00878-w

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Other Link： https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10384-021-00878-w/fulltext.html

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Wiley  

DOI： 10.1002/jmri.28079

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Other Link： https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/jmri.28079

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OBJECTIVES: Radiographs are the most widespread imaging tool for diagnosing osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Our purpose was to determine which of the two factors, medial meniscus extrusion (MME) or cartilage thickness, had a greater effect on the difference in the minimum joint space width (mJSW) at the medial compartment between the extension anteroposterior view (extension view) and the 45° flexion posteroanterior view (Rosenberg view). METHODS: The subjects were 546 participants (more than 50 females and 50 males in their 30 s, 40 s, 50 s, 60 s, and 70 s) in the Kanagawa Knee Study. The mJSW at the medial compartment was measured from both the extension and the Rosenberg views, and the "mJSW difference" was defined as the mJSW in the Rosenberg view subtracted from the mJSW in the extension view. The cartilage region was automatically extracted from MRI data and constructed in three dimensions. The medial region of the femorotibial joint cartilage was divided into 18 subregions, and the cartilage thickness in each subregion was determined. The MME was also measured from MRI data. RESULTS: The mJSW difference and cartilage thickness were significantly correlated at 4 subregions, with 0.248 as the highest absolute value of the correlation coefficient. The mJSW difference and MME were also significantly correlated, with a significantly higher correlation coefficient (0.547) than for the mJSW difference and cartilage thickness. CONCLUSIONS: The MME had a greater effect than cartilage thickness on the difference between the mJSW at the medial compartment in the extension view and in the Rosenberg view. KEY POINTS: • The difference in the width at the medial compartment of the knee between the extension and the flexion radiographic views was more affected by medial meniscus extrusion than by cartilage thickness.

DOI： 10.1007/s00330-021-08253-6

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INTRODUCTION: The circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion is disturbed after general anaesthesia, leading to postoperative sleep disturbance. Small studies investigating the preventive effect of melatonin administration on postoperative sleep disturbance have not reached any conclusions. Therefore, we will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to obtain conclusive results. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We prepared this protocol following the 2015 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Protocols guidelines. We will conduct a search for randomised controlled trials that evaluated the effect of melatonin and melatonin agonists on postoperative sleep quality in adult patients undergoing general anaesthesia or regional anaesthesia with sedation. We will exclude patients undergoing regional anaesthesia without sedation. Relevant studies will be searched in the following eight databases: MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Web of Science and four preregistration sites from inception to 1 January 2021. No language restrictions will be applied. Two authors will independently scan and select eligible studies and perform data extraction and assessment of the risk of bias. The Visual Analogue Scale scores for sleep quality will be combined as the mean difference with a 95% CI using a random-effect model; we will use I2 to assess heterogeneity. We will evaluate the quality of trials using the Cochrane methodology and assess the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. If appropriate, trial sequential analysis will be performed. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No ethical approval is required for this meta-analysis, as it does not include individual patient data. We will disseminate the results of this meta-analysis in a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020180167.

DOI： 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047858

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Several studies have reported improvement in knee pain following mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) injections for knee osteoarthritis (OA). We developed a novel 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis software program that provides "projected cartilage area ratios" for automatic detection of changes in cartilage amounts. The primary objective of this prospective interventional study was to compare alterations in the projected cartilage area ratio (thickness ≥ 1.5 mm) at the femoral posteromedial region between 30 weeks before and 30 weeks after synovial MSC injections. Secondary objectives were to assess the clinical scores and safety of MSC injections. Patients with OA who complained of knee pain underwent autologous synovial MSC injections into the knee at time 0 and again 15 weeks later. MRI examinations were performed at - 30, - 15, - 1, and 30 weeks. Patients showing < 3% decreases in the projected cartilage area ratio (thickness ≥ 1.5 mm) at the femoral the posteromedial region from - 30 weeks to - 15 weeks were excluded from the study. The Lysholm Knee Score, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scale (KOOS), and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores were evaluated at - 30, - 15, - 5, - 2, 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 weeks. Five patients were excluded because 3D MRI analysis showed no cartilage loss at - 15 weeks. Ultimately, eight OA patients underwent MSC injections. The projected cartilage area ratio significantly decreased by 0.07 in the 30 weeks before MSC injections (p = 0.01), but no further decreases occurred in the 30 weeks after MSC injections. The projected cartilage area ratio at the femoral posteromedial region showed a significant difference between 30 weeks before and 30 weeks after MSC injections. The Lysholm Knee Score, KOOS, and NRS values improved significantly after the injections. MSC injection could not be ruled out as the cause of two adverse events: transient knee pain and itching in both hands. Fully automatic 3D MRI analysis showed that synovial MSC injections suppressed cartilage loss in patients with progressive OA.Trial registration: Intraarticular injections of synovial stem cells for osteoarthritis of the knee (Number UMIN 000026732). Date of registration; June 1, 2017. https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000029967 .

DOI： 10.1038/s41598-021-93462-8

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BACKGROUND: We have developed a fully automatic three-dimensional MRI analysis software program for automatic segmentation of knee cartilage using a deep neural network. The purpose of this study was to use this software to clarify the interscan measurement error of the knee cartilage thickness and projected cartilage area ratio at 9 regions and 45 subregions in the knee. METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers underwent MRI twice in the same day. The software provided cartilage thickness and projected cartilage area ratio (thickness ≥ 1.5 mm) at 9 regions and 45 subregions of the knee without any manual correction. The interscan measurement error was calculated at each region and subregion from the data of nine donors, except for one donor who had body motion during the MRI examination. RESULTS: The interscan measurement error of cartilage thickness was less than 0.10 mm at all 9 regions and at 39 subregions among 45 subregions. The measurement errors ranged from 0.03 to 0.21 mm. The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of cartilage thickness were higher than 0.75 at all 9 regions and 41 subregions. The interscan measurement error of the projected cartilage area ratio ranged from 0.01 to 0.03 for all 9 regions. CONCLUSIONS: This study clarified the interscan measurement error of the knee cartilage thickness and projected cartilage area ratio.

DOI： 10.1016/j.ejrad.2021.109700

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Purpose: To identify the clinical characteristics of acute retinal necrosis (ARN) and clarify factors associated with poor visual prognosis. Methods: a nationwide multi-center retrospective chart review study was performed in Japan using data from the medical records of 149 consecutive ARN patients. Demographics, ocular signs, virologic testing of intraocular fluids, and treatment were examined. Factors associated with poor visual prognosis were investigated by regression analysis. Results: At initial presentation, anterior chamber cells or mutton-fat keratic precipitates (97%), unilaterality (93%), and yellow-white retinal lesions (86%) were recognized. In the clinical course, rapid circumferential expansion of retinal lesions (39%), development of retinal break or retinal detachment (55%), and optic atrophy (43%) were recorded. Four variables were identified as associated with poor visual prognosis. Conclusions: The present study identified clinical characteristics and factors associated with poor visual prognosis of ARN.

DOI： 10.1080/09273948.2020.1789179

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

BACKGROUND: Bird-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis (BRHP) is the most common type of fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). Antigen avoidance (AA) is a key step in the diagnosis and management of HP, but not all fibrotic HP patients improve through AA. Because of the poor prognosis of fibrotic HP, predictive biomarkers to identify patients showing rapid progression during AA are urgently needed. METHODS: From a retrospective review of the medical records of 1941 patients with interstitial lung disease, 75 cases of fibrotic BRHP confirmed by a provocation test or surgical lung biopsy were identified. To identify potential prognostic markers obtained at or around diagnosis, physiological and serological variables at diagnosis and the relative changes in those variables during strict AA were evaluated. Cox proportional hazards models with log-rank testing were used to compare the associations between these variables and survival. RESULTS: Univariate analyses showed that gender, smoking status, and the relative change in the serum levels of Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) were associated with prognosis (P = 0.02, 0.04, and 0.02, respectively), but the presence of honeycombing and the forced vital capacity were not associated with survival. The relative change in KL-6 levels (greater than vs. less than a 10% decrease) was significantly associated with survival in a stratified analysis (73.9 vs. 34.9 months; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The relative change in KL-6 levels is associated with the prognosis of patients with fibrotic BRHP independent of previously identified prognostic biomarkers. This finding could help pulmonologists identify fibrotic BRHP patients that are likely to show rapid progression.

DOI： 10.1016/j.resinv.2020.05.007

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Oxford University Press (OUP)  

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the long-term prophylactic efficacy, drug retention and safety of low-dose sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMX/TMP) prophylaxis against Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). Methods: Adult patients with rheumatic diseases receiving prednisolone ≥0.6 mg/kg/day were randomized into the single-strength group (SS; SMX/TMP 400/80 mg daily), the half-strength group (HS; 200/40 mg daily) or the escalation group (ES; starting at 40/8 mg and increasing incrementally to 200/40 mg daily) and treated for 24 weeks, then observed for 52 weeks. The primary endpoint, the PCP non-incidence rate (non-IR) at week 24, has been reported previously. The secondary endpoints were the PCP non-IR at week 52, treatment discontinuation rate and adverse events. Results: Fifty-eight, 59 and 55 patients in the SS, HS and ES, respectively, received SMX/TMP. PCP did not develop in any of the patients by week 52. The estimated PCP non-IR in patients receiving SMX/TMP 200/40 mg daily (HS and ES) was 96.8-100%. Throughout the 52-week observation period, the overall discontinuation rate was significantly lower in HS than in SS (22.7 vs 47.2%, P = 0.004). The discontinuation rates attributable to adverse events were significantly lower in HS (19.1%, P = 0.007) and ES (20.3%, P = 0.007) than in SS (41.8%). The IRs of adverse events requiring SMX/TMP dose reduction before week 52 differed among the three groups, with a significantly higher IR in SS than in HS or ES (P = 0.007). Conclusion: SMX/TMP 200/40 mg had a high PCP prevention rate and was superior to SMX/TMP 400/80 mg in terms of drug retention and safety. Trial registration: University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000007727.

DOI： 10.1093/rap/rkaa029

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE)  

<p>This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. BackgroundMisdiagnoses are associated with various cognitive biases, which are difficult to reduce even if physicians think about clinical cases deliberately. We propose a new "2-Dimensional Approach" that combines two perspectives in diagnostic reasoning: organs (brain, heart, lung, intestine/liver, kidney) and systems (metabolic, endocrine, blood/tumor, infection, immune, circulatory, nervous systems). Systems involve throughout the whole body and can be pathogenesis of diseases. As a result of diseases, organs show abnormal vital signs and symptoms. We investigated: (1) whether each individual resident has a bias for either organs or systems when they diagnose clinical cases, and (2) whether the 2D Approach can reduce such a bias.MethodsWe randomly assigned PGY1 residents (n=105) to either the 2D Approach group (n=45) or a control group (n=60). After attending either a lecture on the 2D Approach or a non-related lecture, residents were asked to diagnose two clinical cases. We divided each diagnosis into one of the two categories, either "organs" or "systems". We investigated whether each resident would diagnose the two cases into the same category, either organs or systems (i.e., a bias for either organs or systems).ResultsThe participants in the control group tended to diagnose the two cases into the same category, either organs or systems (OR: 5.63, 95% CI: 1.62-21.7, p=0.0030, Fisher's exact test). In the 2D Approach group, the category of diagnoses for the two cases were not related to each other (OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 0.50-9.81, p=0.33).ConclusionThere is a bias for either organs or systems when residents diagnose clinical cases, suggesting that organs and systems are different perspectives in diagnostic reasoning. By combining these 2 different perspectives in a 2-dimensional matrix, the 2D Approach reduces this bias.</p>

DOI： 10.15694/mep.2020.000123.1

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Editorial Committee of Annals of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery  

DOI： 10.5761/atcs.oa.19-00250

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The clinical course of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) with fibrosis is similar to that of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Current research is expected to identify biomarkers effective in predicting the deterioration of lung function in a clinical setting. Our group analyzed the relationships between the following parameters in chronic bird-related HP: patient characteristics, serum markers, lung function, HRCT findings, BALF profiles, and the worsening of lung function. We also analyzed serum levels of CXCL9, CCL17, and Krebs von den Lungen 6 (KL-6) as serum markers. Patients showing declines in vital capacity (VC) of over 5% at 6 months after first admission were categorized as the "decline group"; the others were categorized as the "stable group." The serum level of CCL17 and the percentage of BALF macrophages were significantly higher in the decline group compared to the stable group. Serum levels of CXCL9 and CCL17 were significant variables in a multivariate logistic regression analysis of factors associated with VC decline. Patients with a chemokine profile combining lower serum CXCL9 and higher serum CCL17 exhibited significantly larger VC decline in a cluster analysis. Higher serum CCL17 and lower serum CXCL9 were important predictors of worsening lung function in patients with chronic bird-related HP.

DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0220462

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE)  

<p>This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Background: Clinical reasoning is an essential competence of a physician. Particularly, pathophysiological understanding is the key for novices to organize their knowledge and improve clinical reasoning. To this end, we propose a "2-Dimensional (2D) Approach" that visualizes pathophysiology by using a matrix of organs and systems. Methods: This study was a prospective observational study of 100 residents (PGY-1), who attended a lecture on the 2D Approach. They underwent a pre- and post-test that assessed their ability to list differentials for various symptoms and to choose the most likely diagnosis for a case vignette. We stratified the participants according to their baseline knowledge level on the pretest into 2 groups (high-knowledge and low-knowledge). In each of the 2 groups, we compared the change in the pre- and post-test scores between participants who used the 2D Approach during the posttest and those who did not. Results: In the high-knowledge group (n=59), the change in the pre- and post-test scores was significantly larger in the 2D Approach users than non-users (p=0.046), while in the low-knowledge group (n=41), there was no significant difference in the change of the scores between the 2D Approach users and non-users. Conclusions: On condition that residents have sufficient knowledge, the 2D Approach helps them organize their knowledge and improve their clinical reasoning skills, through visualization of pathophysiology on a matrix of organs and systems.</p>

DOI： 10.15694/mep.2019.000134.1

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While bracing is the standard conservative treatment for acute osteoporotic compression fracture, the efficacy of different brace treatments has not been extensively studied. We aimed to clarify and compare the preventive effect of the different brace treatments on the deformity of the vertebral body and other clinical results in this patient cohort. This multicenter nationwide prospective randomized study included female patients aged 65⁻85 years with acute one-level osteoporotic compression fractures. We assigned patients within four weeks of injury to either a rigid-brace treatment or a soft-brace treatment. The main outcome measure was the anterior vertebral body compression percentage at 48 weeks. Secondary outcome measures included scores on the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), visual analog scale (VAS) for lower back pain, and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ). A total of 141 patients were assigned to the rigid-brace group, whereas 143 patients were assigned to the soft-brace group. There were no statistically significant differences in the primary outcome and secondary outcome measures between groups. In conclusion, among patients with fresh vertebral compression fractures, the 12-week rigid-brace treatment did not result in a statistically greater prevention of spinal deformity, better quality of life, or lesser back pain than soft-brace.

DOI： 10.3390/jcm8020198

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DOI： 10.1007/s10877-018-00251-2

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)  

DOI： 10.2106/jbjs.oa.19.00010

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BACKGROUND: The risk factors associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are still unclear. The aim of the present study was to identify such risk factors in NAFLD patients who developed HCC. METHODS: Between April 2000 and -December 2016, a total of 182 patients with NAFLD were enrolled in this study; of these, only 22 patients had HCC. To identify risk factors, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. To identify risk factors other than the degree of fibrosis, propensity matched analysis adjusted by the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) was carried out on 44 patients. Multivariate and survival analyses were also performed in HCC patients. RESULTS: In 182 patients, multivariate analysis highlighted the NFS (OR 2.275; p < 0.001) and hypertension (OR 5.868; p = 0.037) as independent factors that were significantly associated with the development of HCC. After adjustment for the NFS, multivariate analysis identified diabetic retinopathy (OR 8.654; p = 0.017) as an independent factor that was significantly associated with the development of HCC. For predicting the development of HCC, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of diabetic retinopathy was significantly higher than that of diabetes (0.731 vs. 0.615; p < 0.001). In patients with HCC, multivariate analysis indicated that the NFS were significantly associated with diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic retinopathy as well as liver fibrosis is a risk factor that associates with the development of HCC in NAFLD patients. Therefore, NAFLD patients with diabetic retinopathy should undergo careful screening for HCC.

DOI： 10.1159/000493580

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DOI： 10.1016/j.jos.2018.04.003

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DOI： 10.1016/j.jns.2018.02.022

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DOI： 10.1002/iid3.202

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DOI： 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.10.142

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DOI： 10.5183/jjscs.1709000_239

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DOI： 10.1007/s10792-016-0356-7

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier B.V.  

Background and Aims Although treatment for hepatitis C virus has been dramatically improved by the development of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs), whether interferon (IFN)-free therapy reduces hepatocarcinogenesis in an equivalent manner to IFN-based therapy remains controversial. The aims of this study were to evaluate the occurrence and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients treated with DAAs and to identify biomarkers of HCC development after antiviral treatment. Methods A restrospective review of a prospective database of 1,897 CHC patients who were treated with IFN-based (1,145) or IFN-free therapies (752) was carried out. Cumulative HCC occurrence and recurrence rates were compared using propensity score-matched analysis. Predictors of HCC development after viral eradication were identified by multivariate analysis. Results Propensity score-matched analysis showed no significant difference in HCC occurrence (p = 0.49) and recurrence rates (p = 0.54) between groups treated with IFN-based or IFN-free therapies. In multivariate analysis, higher levels of post-treatment α-fetoprotein (AFP) or Wisteria floribunda agglutinin positive Mac-2 binding protein (WFA+M2BP) were independently associated with HCC occurrence and recurrence after viral eradication. Only post-treatment WFA+M2BP level was significantly associated with HCC occurrence and recurrence among patients without severe fibrosis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for WFA+M2BP levels was greater than that for AFP levels in ROC analysis. Conclusion The risks of early HCC occurrence and recurrence after viral eradication were similar between IFN-based and IFN-free therapies. Post-treatment levels of WFA+M2BP may be helpful screening biomarkers for assessing the risk of HCC after IFN-free therapy. Patients with high WFA+M2BP levels after antiviral treatment, even without severe fibrosis, must be followed up carefully for HCC development. Lay summary: The risks of early HCC occurrence and recurrence after viral eradication were similar between IFN-based and IFN-free therapies. Post-treatment levels of WFA+M2BP may be helpful screening biomarkers for assessing the risk of HCC after IFN-free therapy.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jhep.2017.05.028

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV  

Background and Aims: Although treatment for hepatitis C virus has been dramatically improved by the development of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs), whether interferon (IFN)-free therapy reduces hepatocarcinogenesis in an equivalent manner to IFN-based therapy remains controversial. The aims of this study were to evaluate the occurrence and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients treated with DAAs and to identify biomarkers of HCC development after antiviral treatment.
Methods: A restrospective review of a prospective database of 1,897 CHC patients who were treated with IFN-based (1,145) or IFN-free therapies (752) was carried out. Cumulative HCC occurrence and recurrence rates were compared using propensity score-matched analysis. Predictors of HCC development after viral eradication were identified by multivariate analysis.
Results: Propensity score-matched analysis showed no significant difference in HCC occurrence (p = 0.49) and recurrence rates (p = 0.54) between groups treated with IFN-based or IFN-free therapies. In multivariate analysis, higher levels of post-treatment alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) or Wisteria floribunda agglutinin positive Mac-2 binding protein (WFA(+)M2BP) were independently associated with HCC occurrence and recurrence after viral eradication. Only post-treatment WFA(+)M2BP level was significantly associated with HCC occurrence and recurrence among patients without severe fibrosis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for WFA(+)M2BP levels was greater than that for AFP levels in ROC analysis.
Conclusion: The risks of early HCC occurrence and recurrence after viral eradication were similar between IFN-based and IFNfree therapies. Post-treatment levels of WFA(+)M2BP may be helpful screening biomarkers for assessing the risk of HCC after IFN-free therapy. Patients with high WFA(+)M2BP levels after antiviral treatment, even without severe fibrosis, must be followed up carefully for HCC development.
Lay summary: The risks of early HCC occurrence and recurrence after viral eradication were similar between IFN-based and IFNfree therapies. Post-treatment levels of WFA(+)M2BP may be helpful screening biomarkers for assessing the risk of HCC after IFNfree therapy. (C) 2017 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jhep.2017.05.028

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DOI： 10.1186/s13054-017-1759-1

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DOI： 10.1186/s12888-017-1410-3

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DOI： 10.1016/j.jcrc.2016.12.004

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© 2017 The Author(s). Background: Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMX/TMP) is a standard drug for the prophylaxis of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PJP) in immunosuppressed patients with systemic rheumatic diseases, but is sometimes discontinued due to adverse events (AEs). The objective of this non-blinded, randomized, 52-week non-inferiority trial was to quest an effective chemoprophylaxis regimen for PJP with a low drug discontinuation rate. Results at week 24 were reported. Methods: Adult patients with systemic rheumatic diseases who started prednisolone ≥0.6 mg/kg/day were randomized into three dosage groups: a single-strength group (SS, SMX/TMP of 400/80 mg daily), half-strength group (HS, 200/40 mg daily), and escalation group (ES, started with 40/8 mg daily, increasing incrementally to 200/40 mg daily). The primary endpoint was non-incidence rates (non-IR) of PJP at week 24. Results: Of 183 patients randomly allocated at a 1:1:1 ratio into the three groups, 58 patients in SS, 59 in HS, and 55 in ES started SMX/TMP. A total of 172 patients were included in the analysis. No cases of PJP were reported up to week 24. Estimated non-IR of PJP in patients who received daily SMX/TMP of 200/40 mg, either starting at this dose or increasing incrementally, was 96.8-100% using the exact confidence interval as a post-hoc analysis. The overall discontinuation rate was significantly lower with HS compared to SS (p = 0.007). The discontinuation rates due to AEs were significantly lower with HS (p = 0.006) and ES (p = 0.004) compared to SS. The IR of AEs requiring reduction in the dose of SMX/TMP (p = 0.009) and AEs of special interest (p = 0.003) were different among the three groups with significantly higher IR in SS compared to HS and ES. Conclusions: Although there were no PJP cases, the combined group of HS and ES had an excellent estimated non-IR of PJP and both were superior in safety to SS. From the perspective of feasibility and drug discontinuation rates, the daily half-strength regimen was suggested to be optimal for prophylaxis of PJP in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases. Trial registration: The University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry number is UMIN000007727, registered 10 April 2012.

DOI： 10.1186/s13075-016-1206-8

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Many elderly patients with pneumonia have aspiration pneumonia. Therefore they must temporarily abstain from oral intake. However, it is difficult to predict whether or not they will be able to start oral intake. The reason is the standard method to evaluate deglutition about pneumonia patients has not been established. In this study we aimed to develop a simple and convenient method that predicts the prognosis of oral intake as nutrition among elderly patients with acute stage pneumonia. Participants were 77 inpatients fasting due to aspiration risk with acute pneumonia. (86.0 ± 7.7 years
range 68–105 years
men: n = 34, women: n = 43) during September 2011 and August 2013. Their consciousness levels were determined by Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and swallowing function and cough reflex were evaluated by repetitive saliva swallowing test (RSST), modified water swallow test, simple swallowing provocation test and cough test. Oral intake status at discharge was considered as the objective variable, and these tests were considered as explanatory variables. Then receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC) for each was done. From the ROC curve analysis, GCS ≥14 had the largest AUC (0.79) with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.71 and 0.80. That was followed by RSST ≥1, AUC (0.77) with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.81 and 0.67. These results suggest that GCS and RSST could be useful screening tests for prognostic prediction of oral intake capability in elderly patients with acute pneumonia.

DOI： 10.1007/s10266-016-0238-5

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Many elderly patients with pneumonia have aspiration pneumonia. Therefore they must temporarily abstain from oral intake. However, it is difficult to predict whether or not they will be able to start oral intake. The reason is the standard method to evaluate deglutition about pneumonia patients has not been established. In this study we aimed to develop a simple and convenient method that predicts the prognosis of oral intake as nutrition among elderly patients with acute stage pneumonia. Participants were 77 inpatients fasting due to aspiration risk with acute pneumonia. (86.0 +/- 7.7 years; range 68-105 years; men: n = 34, women: n = 43) during September 2011 and August 2013. Their consciousness levels were determined by Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and swallowing function and cough reflex were evaluated by repetitive saliva swallowing test (RSST), modified water swallow test, simple swallowing provocation test and cough test. Oral intake status at discharge was considered as the objective variable, and these tests were considered as explanatory variables. Then receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC) for each was done. From the ROC curve analysis, GCS ae&lt;yen&gt;14 had the largest AUC (0.79) with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.71 and 0.80. That was followed by RSST ae&lt;yen&gt;1, AUC (0.77) with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.81 and 0.67. These results suggest that GCS and RSST could be useful screening tests for prognostic prediction of oral intake capability in elderly patients with acute pneumonia.

DOI： 10.1007/s10266-016-0238-5

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DOI： 10.1186/s12891-017-1393-8

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DOI： 10.1590/1678-77572016-0228

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan Inc.  

DOI： 10.3950/jibiinkoka.120.817

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In order to prevent central nervous system (CNS) involvement and improve the prognosis of primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL), we prospectively evaluated the efficacy of combined therapy using intravitreal methotrexate (MTX) and systemic high-dose MTX on treatment-naïve PIOL. Patients with newly diagnosed PIOL whose lymphoma was limited to the eyes were enrolled. The patients were treated with weekly intravitreal MTX until the ocular lesions were resolved, followed by five cycles of systemic high-dose MTX (3.5 g/m2) every other week. Ten patients were enrolled in this study and completed the treatment. All patients achieved complete response for their ocular lesions with rapid decrease of intravitreal interleukin-10 concentration. Adverse events of intravitreal and systemic high-dose MTX were mild and tolerable. With a median follow-up of 29.5 months, four patients (40%) experienced the CNS disease development and the mean CNS lymphoma-free survival (CLFS) time was 51.1 months. Two-year CLFS, which was the primary end-point of the study, was 58.3% (95% confidence interval, 23.0–82.1%). In contrast, eight patients were treated with intravitreal MTX alone in our institute, and their 2-year CLFS was 37.5% (95% confidence interval, 8.7–67.4%). In conclusion, systemic high-dose MTX following intravitreal MTX is feasible and might be effective in preventing CNS involvement of PIOL. Further arrangements are worth considering in order to improve the effects. This study was registered with UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000003921).

DOI： 10.1111/cas.13012

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In order to prevent central nervous system (CNS) involvement and improve the prognosis of primary intraocular lymphoma (PIOL), we prospectively evaluated the efficacy of combined therapy using intravitreal methotrexate (MTX) and systemic high-dose MTX on treatment-naive PIOL. Patients with newly diagnosed PIOL whose lymphoma was limited to the eyes were enrolled. The patients were treated with weekly intravitreal MTX until the ocular lesions were resolved, followed by five cycles of systemic high-dose MTX (3.5 g/m(2)) every other week. Ten patients were enrolled in this study and completed the treatment. All patients achieved complete response for their ocular lesions with rapid decrease of intravitreal interleukin-10 concentration. Adverse events of intravitreal and systemic high-dose MTX were mild and tolerable. With a median follow-up of 29.5 months, four patients (40%) experienced the CNS disease development and the mean CNS lymphoma-free survival (CLFS) time was 51.1 months. Two-year CLFS, which was the primary end-point of the study, was 58.3% (95% confidence interval, 23.0-82.1%). In contrast, eight patients were treated with intravitreal MTX alone in our institute, and their 2-year CLFS was 37.5% (95% confidence interval, 8.7-67.4%). In conclusion, systemic high-dose MTX following intravitreal MTX is feasible and might be effective in preventing CNS involvement of PIOL. Further arrangements are worth considering in order to improve the effects. This study was registered with UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000003921).

DOI： 10.1111/cas.13012

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DOI： 10.1093/annonc/mdw523.041

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DOI： 10.1038/bmt.2016.3

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DOI： 10.1016/j.jss.2015.10.020

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DOI： 10.1159/000443643

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DOI： 10.1155/2016/2794364

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DOI： 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2015.06.019

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DOI： 10.3174/ajnr.A4384

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DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0127358

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DOI： 10.1186/s40560-015-0080-9

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DOI： 10.1055/s-0034-1390382

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DOI： 10.1002/jor.22753

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DOI： 10.1007/s10384-014-0362-0

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：INFORMA HEALTHCARE  

Conclusion: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is considered to be a distinct entity in Japan. The combination of both HPV-DNA sequencing analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for p16(INK4A) is useful to discriminate the OPSCC patients with a better prognosis from other cases, especially in the advanced stage. Surgical treatment is recommended for HPV-negative advanced cancer. Objective: The number of HPV-related OPSCCs has been increasing worldwide. However, the incidence and prognostic significance of this cancer in Japan have not yet been fully elucidated. Methods: Seventy-seven Japanese patients with OPSCC were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of HPV-DNA was assessed by PCR and sequencing. The expression of p16(INK4A) and p53 was examined by IHC. The clinicopathological parameters and disease-specific survival were analyzed for HPV-positive and -negative patients. Results: HPV-DNA was detected in 32 patients. Thirty-four patients were p16(INK4A)-positive by IHC. The patients who were positive for HPV infection were significantly younger. Furthermore, in the stage III or IV cases, the 3-year disease-specific survival of the HPV infection-positive group was significantly better than that of the HPV-negative group. Surgical treatment was demonstrated to lead to a good prognosis for the patients with HPV-negative advanced cancer.

DOI： 10.3109/00016489.2014.944272

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DOI： 10.1186/s12888-014-0359-8

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Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is considered to be a distinct entity in Japan. The combination of both HPV-DNA sequencing analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for p16(INK4A) is useful to discriminate the OPSCC patients with a better prognosis from other cases, especially in the advanced stage. Surgical treatment is recommended for HPV-negative advanced cancer.<br />
The number of HPV-related OPSCCs has been increasing worldwide. However, the incidence and prognostic significance of this cancer in Japan have not yet been fully elucidated.<br />
Seventy-seven Japanese patients with OPSCC were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of HPV-DNA was assessed by PCR and sequencing. The expression of p16(INK4A) and p53 was examined by IHC. The clinicopathological parameters and disease-specific survival were analyzed for HPV-positive and -negative patients.<br />
HPV-DNA was detected in 32 patients. Thirty-four patients were p16(INK4A)-positive by IHC. The patients who were positive for HPV infection were significantly younger. Furthermore, in the stage III or IV cases, the 3-year disease-specific survival of the HPV infection-positive group was significa

DOI： 10.3109/00016489.2014.944272

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DOI： 10.1007/s10384-014-0340-6

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：W.B. Saunders  

Objectives Angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 are important factors in regulating endothelial vascular permeability. This study evaluated perioperative changes in serum levels of angiopoietin-1 and -2 in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Design Measurement of serum levels of angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 in samples collected during a previously conducted prospective, multicenter, observational study.
Setting Three university hospitals.
Participants Eighty-four adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Intervention Serum levels of angiopoietins were measured at baseline, immediately after surgery, and the day after surgery (POD-1).
Measurements and Main Results Serum levels of angiopoietin-2 were elevated by POD-1 (median 3.3 ng/mL, interquartile range [IQR] 2.5-4.6 ng/mL) compared with baseline (median 1.6 ng/mL, IQR 1.3-2.1 ng/mL, p &lt
0.0001), and angiopoietin-1 levels were decreased immediately after surgery (baseline median 23.2 ng/mL, IQR 10.2-32.8 ng/mL
postoperative median 8.0 ng/mL, IQR 1.5-13.2 ng/mL, p&lt
0.0001). Angiopoietin-2 levels on POD-1 in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting were significantly lower than those in patients undergoing aortic surgery (p = 0.0009) and valve surgery (p = 0.008). Angiopoietin-2 levels on POD-1 had a predictive performance of the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.74 for mechanical ventilation&gt
3 days. Angiopoietin-1 levels and the angiopoietin-2/angiopoietin-1 ratio showed lower predictive performance (AUC values 0.58 and 0.68, respectively).
Conclusions Angiopoietin-2 serum levels were elevated after cardiac surgery. Elevated angiopoietin-2 had a good predictive performance for respiratory failure after cardiac surgery, perhaps reflecting the severity of lung dysfunction related to postoperative increases in vascular permeability.

DOI： 10.1053/j.jvca.2014.03.004

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DOI： 10.1016/j.jcrc.2014.03.031

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Objectives: Angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 are important factors in regulating endothelial vascular permeability. This study evaluated perioperative changes in serum levels of angiopoietin-1 and -2 in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Design: Measurement of serum levels of angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 in samples collected during a previously conducted prospective, multicenter, observational study.
Setting: Three university hospitals.
Participants: Eighty-four adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Intervention: Serum levels of angiopoietins were measured at baseline, immediately after surgery, and the day after surgery (POD-1).
Measurements and Main Results: Serum levels of angiopoietin-2 were elevated by POD-1 (median 3.3 ng/mL, interquartile range [IOR] 2.5-4.6 ng/mL) compared with baseline (median 1.6 ng/mL, IQR 1.3-2.1 ng/mL, p &lt; 0.0001), and angiopoietin-1 levels were decreased immediately after surgery (baseline median 23.2 ng/mL, IQR 10.2-32.8 ng/mL; postoperative median 8.0 ng/mL, IQR 1.5-13.2 ng/mL, p &lt; 0.0001). Angiopoietin-2 levels on POD-1 in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting were significantly lower than those in patients undergoing aortic surgery (p = 0.0009) and valve surgery (p = 0.008). Angiopoietin-2 levels on POD-1 had a predictive performance of the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.74 for mechanical ventilation &gt;3 days. Angiopoietin-1 levels and the angiopoietin-2/angiopoietin-1 ratio showed lower predictive performance (AUC values 0.58 and 0.68, respectively).
Conclusions: Angiopoietin-2 serum levels were elevated after cardiac surgery. Elevated angiopoietin-2 had a good predictive performance for respiratory failure after cardiac surgery, perhaps reflecting the severity of lung dysfunction related to postoperative increases in vascular permeability. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1053/j.jvca.2014.03.004

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DOI： 10.1161/CIRCEP.113.000471

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DOI： 10.1007/s10792-013-9805-8

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DOI： 10.1016/j.jss.2013.07.033

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DOI： 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-004968

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Language：English   Publisher：SPRINGER JAPAN KK  

DOI： 10.1007/s10384-013-0272-6

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DOI： 10.1186/1465-9921-14-126

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DOI： 10.1007/s10384-013-0272-6

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DOI： 10.1186/1465-9921-14-57

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DOI： 10.1097/SHK.0b013e31829f21a8

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DOI： 10.1371/journal.pone.0070200

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DOI： 10.1007/s10384-013-0247-7

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Background: Recent research has suggested that the Th1 and Th2 chemokine/cytokine axis contributes to the development of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). Acute exacerbations (AE) are significant factors in the prognosis of chronic HP. Little is known, however, about these biomarkers in association with AE in chronic HP patients.
Methods: Fifty-six patients with chronic HP were evaluated, including 14 patients during episodes of AE. Th1 mediators (C-X-C chemokine ligand [CXCL] 10 and interferon [IFN]-gamma), Th2 mediators (C-C chemokine ligand [CCL] 17, interleukin-4, and interleukin-13), and pro-fibrotic mediator (transforming growth factor [TGF]-beta) were measured to evaluate the mediators as predictors of AE. C-C chemokine receptor (CCR) 4 (receptor for CCL17)-positive lymphocytes were quantified in lung specimens.
Results: Serum CCL17 levels at baseline independently predicted the first episode of AE (HR, 72.0; 95% CI, 5.03-1030.23; p = 0.002). AE was significantly more frequent in the higher-CCL17 group (&gt;= 285 pg/ml) than in the lower-CCL17 group (&lt;285 pg/ml) (log-rank test, p = 0.0006; 1-year incidence: higher CCL17 vs. lower CCL17, 14.3% vs. 0.0%). Serum CCL17 levels and CCR4-positive cells during episodes of AE were increased from the baseline (p = 0.01 and 0.031).
Conclusions: Higher serum concentrations of CCL17 at baseline may be predictive of AE in patients with chronic HP, and CCL17 may contribute to the pathology of AE by inducing the accumulation of CCR4-positive lymphocytes in the lungs.

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DOI： 10.1007/s12149-012-0679-z

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DOI： 10.1161/STROKEAHA.112.674101

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DOI： 10.1109/ICTKE.2013.6756266

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DOI： 10.1159/000346738

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In statistical genetics, the focus is 'haplotypes', which are the major polymorphic markers in DNA data. Therefore, over approximately the last 10 years, the relative frequencies of different haplotypes have been estimated, their structures have been examined, and haplotypes have been used for association studies. We introduce and summarize haplotype analyses of recent years, e.g., identification of haplotype blocks and haplotype association studies.

DOI： 10.20551/jscswabun.25.1_53

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DOI： 10.1167/iovs.12-10161

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DOI： 10.1167/iovs.12-9426

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DOI： 10.1097/SHK.0b013e318225f839

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DOI： 10.1016/j.csda.2011.01.002

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DOI： 10.1186/cc10519

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Recently, the number of suicides in Japan increases rapidly. Our data are the number of suicides of each prefecture municipalities collected between 1973 and 2007 was brought together in 6 periods of every 5 years (only 1st period has 10years) and 348 areas of the secondary medical regions, which were formed as part of medical planning, and each region has a population of approximately 300,000 as a daily living area. In this paper, we have studied the transition and the tendency for these data using Echelon analysis.

DOI： 10.20551/jscswabun.23.1_25

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DOI： 10.1111/j.2040-1124.00040.x

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DOI： 10.1016/j.trsl.2010.01.001

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Recently, we want to know not only DNA sequences but also a relationship between genotype and phenotype in genomic data. There are the very large scale of genotype data, we have to use the Linux OS environment for an analysis of statistical genetics. However, there are several R packages which are available for these analyses. Then, in this paper, we introduce these several applications for genome-wide association analyses, and we showed results of an association analysis for real data.

DOI： 10.20551/jscswabun.22.2_131

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DOI： 10.1016/j.schres.2009.03.040

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DOI： 10.1016/j.schres.2009.02.019

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DOI： 10.1016/j.diabres.2008.10.021

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DOI： 10.1038/jhg.2009.19

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DOI： 10.1016/j.csda.2007.05.035

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Rotation of axes, which is almost routinely used in exploratory factor analysis, is not so common in principal component analysis (PCA) excepting in the fields such as climatology and psychology. In applying rotation to PCA we have to decide how to normalize the eigenvectors and which of the component coefficients or the component loadings to rotate, where the component coefficients are the coefficients for the original variables in computing the component scores and the component loadings are the coefficients for the component scores in approximating the original variables. These problems were studied numerically by applying these methods of orthogonal rotation to two actual data sets and several artificial data sets generated following factor analysis models. It was found that orthogonal rotation of component loadings tends to provide the result easier to interpret than that of the orthogonal rotation of component coefficients.

DOI： 10.20551/jscswabun.19.2_89

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DOI： 10.20551/jscswabun.18.1_51

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DOI： 10.1086/346116

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DOI： 10.1097/SHK.0b013e31829f21a8

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DOI： 10.20551/jscssymo.26.0_91

CiNii Books

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Language：Japanese   Publisher：日本計算機統計学会  

DOI： 10.20551/jscstaikai.25.0_127

CiNii Books

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (scientific journal)  

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (scientific journal)  

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (scientific journal)  

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper, summary (international conference)  

Web of Science

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Language：English   Presentation type：Poster presentation  

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