Background: This study examined how the frequency of in-person, telephone, text-based communication, and video interactions with non-cohabiting family and friends relates to loneliness among older adults in Japan. Methods: We analyzed data from 6,786 adults aged ≥65 in the 2024 Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS) study. Interaction frequency with non-cohabiting family and friends was categorized into none (reference), monthly, and weekly or more. Loneliness was measured using the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale and dichotomized at ≥4, indicating loneliness; a ≥7 cut-off was used in sensitivity analyses. Logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors. Results: For family, significant associations with lower loneliness were observed only at weekly frequencies—in-person (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=0.764, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.664–0.879), text (aOR=0.747, 95% CI 0.659–0.846), and telephone (aOR=0.624, 95% CI 0.543–0.718), whereas for friends, significant associations were observed at monthly frequencies—in-person (aOR=0.621, 95% CI 0.549–0.701), text (aOR=0.881, 95% CI 0.778–0.997), and telephone (aOR=0.734, 95% CI 0.659–0.819). Video calls were associated with lower odds of severe loneliness (score ≥7) in sensitivity analyses—weekly calls with family (aOR=0.736, 95% CI 0.547–0.991) and monthly calls with friends (aOR=0.656, 95% CI 0.470–0.917). Conclusion Interactions with friends show associations with lower levels of loneliness at lower frequencies than family contact. While text and phone calls are broadly associated with reduced loneliness, video calls showed an association specifically with a lower prevalence of severe loneliness, underscoring the potential for tailored communication strategies.

Objective: This study aimed to determine if the discrepancy between depression severity rated by clinicians and that reported by patients depends on key behavioral/psychological features in patients with mood disorders. Methods: Participants included 100 patients with mood disorders. First, we examined correlations and regressions between scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Second, we divided the participants into those who provided 1) greater ratings for the BDI compared with the HAMD (BDI relative-overrating, BO) group, 2) comparable ratings for the BDI and HAMD (BDI relatively concordant, BC) group, or 3) less ratings for the BDI (BDI relative-underrating, BU) group. Adverse childhood experiences, autistic-like traits, and coping styles were evaluated with a six-item short version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-6), the Social Responsiveness Scale for Adults (SRS-A), and the Ways of Coping Checklist (WCCL), respectively. Results: A significant correlation was found between HAMD and BDI scores. Total and emotional abuse subscale scores from the CTQ-6, and the self-blame subscale scores from the WCCL were significantly higher for the BO group compared with the BU group. The BO group also elicited significantly higher SRS-A total scores than did the other groups. Conclusion These findings suggest that patients with adverse emotional experiences, autistic-like traits, and self-blame coping styles perceive greater distress than that evaluated objectively by clinicians. The results indicate the need for inclusion of subjective assessments to effectively evaluate depressive symptoms in patients deemed to have these psycho-behavioral concerns.

Background/Aims: The Lyon Consensus defined parameters based on upper endoscopy and 24-hour combined multichannel intraluminal impedancepH (MII-pH), that conclusively establish the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, the true role of upper endoscopy and MII-pH to evaluate patients with extraesophageal symptoms (EES) has not been well established. Hypopharyngeal MII (HMII), which directly measures laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) events, has been utilized to evaluate patients with EES suggestive of LPR. Methods: This was a retrospective study involving patients with EES for > 12 weeks despite proton pump inhibitor therapy, and had no endoscopic confirmatory evidence for GERD and negative MII-pH. All patients were subsequently referred for further evaluation of EES with “unknown” etiology and underwent laryngoscopy and HMII. Based on HMII, abnormal proximal exposure (APE) was defined as LPR ≥ 1/day and/or full column reflux (reflux 2 cm distal to the upper esophageal sphincter) > 4/day. Patients with APE were offered antireflux surgery (ARS) and the outcome of ARS was objectively assessed using Reflux Symptom Index. Results: Of 21 patients with EES which was thought to be GERD-unrelated based on endoscopy and MII-pH, 17 patients (81%) had APE. Eight patients with APE who had undergone ARS had significant symptomatic improvement in the Reflux Symptom Index score (19.6 ± 4.9 pre-ARS to 5.8 ± 1.4 post-ARS, P = 0.008). Conclusions A conventional diagnostic approach using endoscopy and MII-pH may not be sufficient to evaluate patients with EES suggestive of LPR. HMII is essential to evaluate patients with EES, and APE could be a reliable indicator for successful treatment outcomes.

We report a case involving a young female patient with severe mandibular retrognathism accompanied by mandibular condylar deformity that was effectively treated with Le Fort I osteotomy and two genioplasty procedures. At 9 years and 9 months of age, she was diagnosed with Angle Class III malocclusion, a skeletal Class II jaw relationship, an anterior crossbite, congenital absence of some teeth, and a left-sided cleft lip and palate. Although the anterior crossbite and narrow maxillary arch were corrected by interceptive orthodontic treatment, severe mandibular hypogrowth resulted in unexpectedly severe mandibular retrognathism after growth completion. Moreover, bilateral condylar deformities were observed, and we suspected progressive condylar resorption (PCR). There was a high risk of further condylar resorption with mandibular advancement surgery; therefore, Le Fort I osteotomy with two genioplasty procedures was performed to achieve counterclockwise rotation of the mandible and avoid ingravescence of the condylar deformities. The total duration of active treatment was 42 months. The maxilla was impacted by 7.0 mm and 5.0 mm in the incisor and molar regions, respectively, while the pogonion was advanced by 18.0 mm. This significantly resolved both skeletal disharmony and malocclusion. Furthermore, the hyoid bone was advanced, the pharyngeal airway space was increased, and the morphology of the mandibular condyle was maintained. At the 30-month follow-up examination, the patient exhibited a satisfactory facial profile. The findings from our case suggest that severe mandibular retrognathism with condylar deformities can be effectively treated without surgical mandibular advancement, thus decreasing the risk of PCR.
Cleft Lip ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genioplasty* ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; Incisor ; Jaw ; Malocclusion ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III ; Mandible ; Mandibular Advancement ; Mandibular Condyle ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Osteotomy* ; Palate ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retrognathia* ; Tooth

Background : There has been no ideal valve prosthesis for children from the point of view of thromboembolism and size mismatch, and the surgical repair of native mitral valve has always been our first priority in children. However, valve replacement becomes the inevitable surgical option if repair is impossible. The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term results of mitral valvuloplasty (MVP) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) for isolated mitral valve diseases in children under 15 years old. Patients and Methods : From 1981 to 2010, 30 patients underwent a total of MVPs (P group) and 26 consecutive patients underwent a total of MVRs (R group). The median age was 4.6 years (4 months to 16 years) in group P and 6.2 years (4 months to 13.7 years) in group R, and the median body weight was 13.4 kg (6 to 35.5 kg) in group P and 16.4 kg (4.8 to 50.7 kg) in group R. The etiology was congenital in 55 (98%) patients, and due to endocarditis in 1 (2%) patient. Isolated mitral regurgitation was present in 41 (73%) patients (group iMR), and isolated mitral stenosis was present in 15 (27%) patients (group iMS). Mechanical valves (bileaflet disc, n=26) were used in all initial MVR patients. Results : Overall hospital mortality was 0%. The median follow-up time was 9.3±7.8 years (4 months to 27.7 years). There were 6 reoperations in P group and 5 explants due to size mismatch in R group with patient growth, and no explant due to structural valve deterioration. Survival rates at 10 years were 100% in the P group and 88.0% in the R group, and there was a significant difference (p=0.043). Freedom from reoperation at 10 years was 77.6% in P group and 77.0% in R group. Freedom rate from cerebral events at 10 years were 100% in both groups, respectively, and there were no significant differences. Survival rates at 10 years were 100% in the iMR group and 53.3% in the iMS group, respectively, and there was a significant difference between the groups (p<0.001). Freedom rates from reoperation at 10 years were 77.1% in the iMR group and 64.3% in the iMS group, respectively, there being no significant difference. Conclusions : The long-term results of pediatric mitral surgery were acceptable. Mitral valvuloplasty for patients with isolated mitral regurgitation were excellent. Mitral valve replacement can be performed with low initial mortality but should be reserved for medical and reconstruction failure because reoperation and late mortality are high, particularly for patients with isolated mitral stenosis.

The expansion of life-style related diseases, such as metabolic syndrome (MS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), appears to be unstoppable. It is also difficult to cease their complications in spite of many antidiabetic medications or intervention of public administration. We and our collaborators found that physical medicine using simultaneous stimulation of heat with mild electric current activates heat shock response, thereby reducing visceral adiposity, insulin resistance, chronic inflammation and improving glucose homeostasis in mice models of T2DM, as well as in humans with MS or T2DM. This combination therapy exerts novel action on insulin signaling, beta-cell protection and body compositions, and may provide a new therapeutic alternative in diabetic treatment strategy.
Adiposity ; Animals ; Body Composition ; Cytoprotection ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Glucose ; Heat-Shock Response* ; Homeostasis ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Insulin Resistance* ; Insulin* ; Mice ; Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

In step with the widespread use of antimicrobial agents in medical treatment, microbial substitution and emergence of new drug-resistant bacteria have become life-threatening problem today. Both have resulted from the postopreative practice of administering prophylactic medication and long-term, desultory drug administration. Drug-resistant microbes can occur easily with the inadequate use of drug. Therefore, our hospital has held in check the incidence of drug-resistant microbial infection by letting ICT members make the rounds of the wards and go over the notifications of the prescription of specific antimicrobial agents and the reports on drug-resistant bacteria. At the begiing, the notification and the report were filed separately. Recently, the information obtained from thses two channels has become easier of access because all the necessary data appear on the same screen at once by using patients' IDs. We believe that the streamlining of work and putting two kinds of data together have proved very usefull for infection control, as it has become possible to keep careful watch over the use of specific antimicrobial agents and the detection of drug-resistant microorganism simulataneously. By sharing the information obtained by us with all the rest on the hospital staff, we will continue to make efforts along this line and contribute toward the prevention of the outbreak of nosocomial infections as well as community-acquired ones.
Microorganism ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Medical Surveillance ; microbial ; Bacterial

Post-malaria neurological syndrome (PMNS) is a rare complication after the treatment of falciparum malaria. We describe a case of a 56-year-old man who developed ataxia, tremor, and confusion 16 days after a successful treatment of falciparum malaria with artesunate followed by mefloquine. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed no abnormality, and he recovered spontaneously without any specific treatment including corticosteroids. Inflammatory changes were found in the cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting a localized inflammatory reaction as the cause of the syndrome.

A 60-year-old male was diagnosed as having sarcoidosis four months previously because of bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy seen on a chest X-ray, uveitis, and elevation of serum angiotensin converting enzyme. In summer, the patient suffered from hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, and renal dysfunction. Renal biopsy showed interstitial nephritis with gallium scintigraphy demonstrating high uptake in the bilateral hilum, eyes, and kidneys. Corticosteroid treatment was effective in remarkably improving the renal disorder and radiographic abnormalities.
The calcium metabolic abnormalities and the granulomatous interstitial nephritis showed a marked response to corticosteroid therapy, so that immediate administration of corticosteroid may be justified even in cases without histological evidences. Gallium scintigraphy is suggested to be useful in noninvasive examination in acute stage of sarcoidosis.