Background: Poor lifestyle habits may worsen nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), with progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. This study investigated the association between glycemic control status and hepatic histological findings to elucidate the effect of glycemic control on NAFLD. Methods: This observational study included 331 patients diagnosed with NAFLD by liver biopsy. Effects of the glycemic control status on histological findings of NAFLD were evaluated by comparing the following four glycemic status groups defined by the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level at the time of NAFLD diagnosis: ≤5.4%, 5.5%–6.4%, 6.5%–7.4%, and ≥7.5%. Results: Compared with the lowest HbA1c group (≤5.4%), the higher HbA1c groups (5.5%–6.4%, 6.5%–7.4%, and ≥7.5%) were associated with advanced liver fibrosis and high NAFLD activity score (NAS). On multivariate analysis, an HbA1c level of 6.5%– 7.4% group was significantly associated with advanced fibrosis compared with the lowest HbA1c group after adjusting for age, sex, hemoglobin, alanine aminotransferase, and creatinine levels. When further controlling for body mass index and uric acid, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, the higher HbA1c groups were significantly associated with advanced fibrosis compared with the lowest HbA1c group. On the other hand, compared with the lowest HbA1c group, the higher HbA1c groups were also associated with a high NAS in both multivariate analyses. Conclusion Glycemic control is associated with NAFLD exacerbation, with even a mild deterioration in glycemic control, especially a HbA1c level of 6.5%–7.4%, contributing to NAFLD progression.

Background/Aims: Although certain allergic diseases have been reported to be associated with the prevalence of functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it is unclear whether the presence of multiple allergic diseases further increases the prevalence of FD and IBS.The aim of this study is to determine this issue in young people. Methods: A cohort of 8923 Japanese university students was enrolled and diagnoses of FD and IBS were confirmed using Rome III criteria.Allergic disorders diagnosed at medical institutions were obtained by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of FD, IBS, and their overlap was found to be 1.9%, 6.5%, and 1.1%, respectively. Pollen allergy was independently positively correlated with FD, IBS, and overlap of FD and IBS. Allergic rhinitis was positively linked to IBS. Drug allergy was positively associated with FD. The presence of multiple allergic diseases was positively correlated with FD and IBS (FD: adjusted OR for 2 allergic diseases: 1.95 [95% CI, 1.24-2.98], P for trend = 0.003; and IBS: adjusted OR for 1 allergic disease: 1.40 [95% CI, 1.15-1.69], 2 allergic diseases 1.47 [95% CI, 1.12-1.91], and 3 or more allergic diseases: 2.22 [95% CI, 1.45-3.28], P for trend = 0.001). Additionally, the concomitant existence of multiple allergic diseases was also demonstrated to have a trend that correlated with the overlap of FD and IBS (P for trend = 0.018). Conclusion Allergic disease multimorbidity is positively correlated with the prevalence of FD and IBS in a young population.

We describe the case of a 1-year and 7-month-old girl who was born at 36 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy weighing 1,351 g. In addition to the diagnosis of Cornelia de Lange syndrome and Tetralogy of Fallot, we confirmed shunt blood flow from the lesser curvature of the aortic arch to the main pulmonary artery. Thus, we additionally diagnosed ectopic patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Ultrasonography showed interruption and retrograde flow of the diastolic blood flow in the anterior cerebral artery. Therefore, we made a diagnosis of blood stealing due to an ectopic PDA, and we performed surgical intervention via a median sternotomy at 25 days. When we ligated the shunt blood vessel, the percutaneous oxygen saturation decreased from the high 90% range to the low 70% range, thus we temporarily released the ligation. We narrowed the ectopic PDA so that the percutaneous oxygen saturation could be maintained the high 80% range. Postoperative ultrasonography showed improvement of the pressure waveform in the anterior cerebral artery. After discharge, oxygen demand increased gradually with weight gain, and we performed intracardiac repair using a monocusp valve patch at 1 year and 7 months. We report a rare case of Cornelia de Lange syndrome wherein we achieved intracardiac repair of Tetralogy of Fallot after ectopic PDA banding in the neonatal period.

Background/Aims: Evidence regarding the association between body mass index (BMI) and functional dyspepsia (FD) in the Asian population is limited.Further, no study has evaluated this issue in young people in Asian and Western populations. Thus, we aim to investigate this issueamong young Japanese people. Methods: The study subjects comprised of 8923 Japanese university students. BMI was divided into 4 categories (quartiles) on the basis of thestudy subjects’ distribution (lowest, low, moderate, and high [reference]). The definition of lean, normal, overweight, and obesewas BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 , 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m2 (reference), 25 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m2 , and 30 kg/m2 ≤ BMI, respectively. The definition of FD was based on the Rome III criteria. Results: The prevalence of FD was 1.9% in this cohort. The lowest BMI was independently associated with FD after adjustment (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46-3.67); P for trend = 0.001). The lowest BMI was independently associated with FD in women but not in men (OR, 2.94; 95% CI, 1.59-5.77; P for trend = 0.001). Leanness was independently associated with FD in total and in women but not in men (total: adjusted OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.40-2.86) and women (OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.35-3.45). However,interaction analysis showed no significant difference for sex. Conclusions Among young Japanese people, BMI may be independently inversely associated with FD. Leanness may be an independent associated factor for FD in the young Japanese women.

Background/Aims: Functional dyspepsia (FD) may be a common digestive disease worldwide and reduces the quality of life of patients. However, only a few studies have investigated the association between eating behavior and FD. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to examine the association between eating behavior and prevalence of FD in a young Japanese cohort. Methods: In this study, we enrolled 8923 Japanese university students. FD is diagnosed based on the Rome III criteria. Eating habits and frequency of meals were investigated using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The FD subjects had a younger mean age, a lower body mass index, and a lower proportion of men compared to the non-FD subjects.An independent positive association between skipping breakfast and/or lunch and FD was found (adjusted ORs were 1.60 [95% CI, 1.10-2.32] for breakfast and 2.52 [95% CI, 1.04-5.18] for lunch). Skipping dinner, extra meals (snacks) or midnight snacks was not associated with FD. The prevalence of FD in subjects eating 1, 2, and 3 meals per day was 4.8%, 2.2%, and 1.7%, respectively. The frequency of meals was independently inversely associated with prevalence of FD (adjusted ORs were 1 per day: 2.72 [95% CI, 1.19-5.42], and 2 per day: 1.69 [95% CI, 1.16-2.43], P for trend = 0.001). Conclusions In the young Japanese people, the frequency of meals may be independently inversely associated with prevalence of FD. In particular, skipping breakfast and/or lunch was associated with the prevalence of FD.

Approximately 40%–65% of new fitness club (FC) members cancel their membership within 6 months. To prevent such cancellations, it is essential to identify members at high risk of doing so. This study developed a model to predict the probability of discontinuing FC membership among new members. We conducted a cohort study and enrolled participants from 17 FCs in Japan. We asked 5,421 individuals who became members from March 29, 2015 to April 5, 2016 to participate in the study; 2,934 completed the baseline survey, which was conducted when the participants became FC members. We followed up the participants until September 30, 2016. We excluded 883 participants with missing values and 69 participants under aged 18 years; thus, our analysis covered 1,982 individuals. We conducted the random survival forest to develop the prediction model. The mean follow-up period was 296.3 (standard deviation, 127.3) days; 488 participants (24.6%) cancelled their membership during the follow-up. The prediction model comprised 8 predictors: age; month of joining FC; years of education; being under medical follow-up; reasons for joining FC (health improvement, relaxation); and perceived benefits from exercise (maintaining good body weight, recognition of one’s ability by other). The discrimination and calibration were acceptable (C statistic: 0.692, continuous ranked probability score: 0.134). Our findings suggest that the prediction model could assess the valid probability for early FC cancellation among new members; however, a validation study will be needed.

We report a case of a 64-year-old woman who presented with symptoms for the common cold, for a medical examination. The chest X-ray showed enlargement of the heart, and echocardiography detected a mobile mass suggestive of a tumor 21×14 mm in the left ventricle. Because there was a risk of embolism, we decided to perform an operation. The tumor was elastic and soft and had a stalk arising from the wall of the left ventricle. We considered that it would be difficult to observe and expose the left ventricular tumor by direct vision. Therefore, we chose to perform a complete endoscopic resection. The tumor was determined histopathologically to be a papillary fibroelastoma. Here, we report the relatively rare benign tumor, a papillary fibroelastoma, and include a discussion of the literature.

    Clinical research is essential for the practice of evidence-based medicine. This study reports on our current practice of clinical research support in Mito Kyodo General Hospital and discusses future challenges. In April 2013, the University of Tsukuba hired a clinical research assistant to provide clinical research support in Mito Kyodo General Hospital. The clinical research assistant worked full-time in the hospital in collaboration with 3 university faculty members. The target population for this study comprised 450 medical personnel including doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. From April 2014, 1 of the 3 faculty members visited the hospital once a month to offer clinical research consultations and deliver a lecture on nursing research. We analyzed past records of clinical research support and conducted a questionnaire survey to explore the level of satisfaction of the medical personnel. Four-hundred and ninety records of 91 research topics proposed by 68 medical personnel were identified. Of these, 93.4% were proposed by doctors or nurses. Most studies employed an observational study design (64.8%) and were conducted in order to make a presentation at an academic conference (51.1%). The consultation sessions were held 1–5 times, for 40–405 min, and lasted from 1–84 days per research topic. Consultations mostly pertained to research design and protocol planning (57.1%). Forty-seven clients were invited to participate in the questionnaire survey, 30 of whom provided valid responses. The results showed that 96.6% of the clients were satisfied with the consultations. The number of clients who participated in the consultations comprised only 15.1% of the target population. These practice biases need to be addressed in future. However, nearly all respondents were satisfied with the consultations. These findings suggest that our clinical research support was beneficial to medical personnel.

For the control of Crohn's disease (CD) a thorough assessment of the small intestine is essential; several modalities may be utilized, with cross-sectional imaging being important. Magnetic resonance (MR) enterography, i.e., MRE is recommended as a modality with the highest accuracy for CD lesions. MRE and MR enteroclysis are the two methods performed following distension of the small intestine. MRE has sensitivity and specificity comparable to computed tomography enterography (CTE); although images obtained using MRE are less clear compared with CTE, MRE does not expose the patient to radiation and is superior for soft-tissue contrast. Furthermore, it can assess not only static but also dynamic and functional imaging and reveals signs of CD, such as abscess, comb sign, fat edema, fistula, lymph node enhancement, less motility, mucosal lesions, stricture, and wall enhancement. Several indices of inflammatory changes and intestinal damage have been proposed for objective evaluation. Recently, diffusion-weighted imaging has been proposed, which does not need bowel preparation and contrast enhancement. Comprehension of the characteristics of MRE and other modalities is important for better management of CD.
Abscess ; Animals ; Capsule Endoscopy ; Comb and Wattles ; Comprehension ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Crohn Disease* ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Edema ; Fistula ; Humans ; Intestine, Small* ; Lymph Nodes ; Sensitivity and Specificity

A 58-year-old man who complained of dyspnea on effort was given a diagnosis of decompensated congestive heart failure. Echocardiography revealed severe aortic regurgitation and cardiomegaly. We decided to perform aortic valve replacement with a mechanical valve, however his past history made us suspicious of allergy to metal. From his previous patient records, we determined he was allergic to many metals : gold, iron, platinum, cobalt, chrome, bronze, and zinc. Newly performed skin patch tests showed positive reactions to aluminum, tin, palladium, indium, iridium and stainless steel. We selected a CarboMedics mechanical valve made of nickel-titanium alloy. Aortic valve replacement with a 27-mm CarboMedics mechanical valve was performed by median sternotomy. At sternum closure, we used polyester non-absorbable suture thread, instead of surgical steel wire, because it contains stainless steel. His postoperative progress was good and he was discharged on the 10th postoperative day. One year after surgery he is doing well without any allergic symptoms.