Background: Although a recent study reported an association between cachexia, as defined by the Asian Working Group for Cachexia (AWGC), and lower functional recovery at discharge among post-stroke patients capable of oral intake during the convalescent rehabilitation phase, its impact on functional recovery in patients with dysphagia remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between cachexia, according to AWGC criteria, and both functional status and discharge destinations among inpatients with dysphagia. Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled 198 inpatients with dysphagia from eight convalescent rehabilitation hospitals. Cachexia was defined using the AWGC criteria at baseline. The primary outcome was the total Functional Independence Measure (FIM) at discharge, while the secondary outcomes were the Food Intake LEVEL Scale (FILS) score and discharge destinations. We applied generalized linear models to evaluate the association between cachexia and total FIM score at discharge, adjusting for age, sex, baseline FILS score, comorbidities, and use of enteral nutrition. Results: Of 198 patients, the median age was 83.0 years (interquartile range, 77.0–88.0); 111 (56.1%) were women, and 33 (16.7%) had cachexia. After adjusting for covariates, cachexia was not significantly associated with total FIM score at discharge (β=0.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.10 to 0.15, p=0.66), FILS (β=0.23, 95% CI -0.53 to 1.00, p=0.55), or discharge destinations including discharge to home (β=0.25, 95% CI -0.75 to 1.35, p=0.63). Conclusion Cachexia, as defined by the AWGC, was not significantly associated with either functional status at discharge or discharge destinations among inpatients with dysphagia undergoing convalescent rehabilitation.

Background/Aims: Tofacitinib and upadacitinib are small-molecule compounds that inhibit the Janus kinase pathway for the treatment of refractory ulcerative colitis. Only a few reports have compared the efficacy and safety of these 2 drugs in real-world practice. We aimed to show our real-world evidence of these drugs and compare the efficacy and safety profiles in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Methods: This study is a single-center retrospective analysis. Patients treated with tofacitinib or upadacitinib at our hospital between June 2018 and January 2024 who were monitored for 24 weeks were included. The primary outcome was steroid-free clinical remission at 24 weeks. Secondary outcomes were response and remission rates at each time point, time series changes in partial Mayo scores and laboratory results, treatment survival at 24 weeks, and the incidence of adverse events. Results: A total of 68 patients treated with tofacitinib and 34 patients treated with upadacitinib were included. Steroid-free clinical remission rate at 24 weeks was significantly higher in upadacitinib-treated patients than in tofacitinibtreated patients (64.7% vs. 38.2%). The response rates in upadacitinib-treated patients exceeded 60% after 8 weeks of treatment through to 24 weeks, and the rates were higher than those in tofacitinib-treated patients. The incidences of adverse events were 79.4% in upadacitinib-treated patients and 38.2% in tofacitinib-treated patients. The most common adverse event was acne for upadacitinib. Conclusions Upadacitinib was more effective than tofacitinib in inducing remission in ulcerative colitis patients. The incidence of adverse events was significantly higher with upadacitinib than tofacitinib.

Introduction: Patients with vertebral compression fractures are likely to decrease physical function and activities of daily living (ADL) due to pain and inactivity. In this study, we examined the effect of the amount of rehabilitation provided on functional prognosis in patients with vertebral compression fracture.Methods: We included 18,174 vertebral compression fracture patients aged 65 years or older in the JMDC multicenter data. Barthel index (BI) gains, BI efficiency, ADL independence at discharge (BI≧95), and discharge home were compared between patients who received an average of at least 1 unit of rehabilitation during hospitalization (high-provider group) and those who received less than 1 unit per day (low-provider group).Results: There were 4,145 patients in the high-provider group and 14,029 in the low-provider group. The high-provider group had higher BI gain and BI efficiency, as well as a higher percentage of patients with independent ADLs at discharge (41.6%) and a higher percentage of patients discharged home (79.2%). In multiple regression analysis, the high-provider group had higher BI gain (regression coefficient: 2.423)and BI efficiency (regression coefficient: 0.043). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the high-provider group had a higher rate of discharge home (odds ratio:1.26) and a higher rate of ADL independence at discharge (odds ratio: 1.17).Conclusion: In patients with vertebral compression fractures, the amount of rehabilitation provision may have an impact on functional prognosis.

Introduction: Patients with vertebral compression fractures are likely to decrease physical function and activities of daily living (ADL) due to pain and inactivity. In this study, we examined the effect of the amount of rehabilitation provided on functional prognosis in patients with vertebral compression fracture.Methods: We included 18,174 vertebral compression fracture patients aged 65 years or older in the JMDC multicenter data. Barthel index (BI) gains, BI efficiency, ADL independence at discharge (BI≧95), and discharge home were compared between patients who received an average of at least 1 unit of rehabilitation during hospitalization (high-provider group) and those who received less than 1 unit per day (low-provider group).Results: There were 4,145 patients in the high-provider group and 14,029 in the low-provider group. The high-provider group had higher BI gain and BI efficiency, as well as a higher percentage of patients with independent ADLs at discharge (41.6%) and a higher percentage of patients discharged home (79.2%). In multiple regression analysis, the high-provider group had higher BI gain (regression coefficient: 2.423) and BI efficiency (regression coefficient: 0.043). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the high-provider group had a higher rate of discharge home (odds ratio: 1.26) and a higher rate of ADL independence at discharge (odds ratio: 1.17).Conclusion: In patients with vertebral compression fractures, the amount of rehabilitation provision may have an impact on functional prognosis.

Background/Aims: The efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early-stage gastric cancer is well established. However, its acquisition is challenging owing to its complexity. In Japan, G-Master is a novel ex vivo gastric ESD training model. The effectiveness of training using G-Master is unknown. This study evaluated the efficacy of gastric ESD training using the G-Master to evaluate trainees’ learning curves and performance. Methods: Four trainees completed 30 ESD training sessions using the G-Master, and procedure time, resection area, resection completion, en-bloc resection requirement, and perforation occurrence were measured. Resection speed was the primary endpoint, and learning curves were evaluated using the Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) method. Results: All trainees completed the resection and en-bloc resection of the lesion without any intraoperative perforations. The learning curves covered three phases: initial growth, plateau, and late growth. The transition from phase 1 to phase 2 required a median of 10 sessions. Each trainee completed 30 training sessions in approximately 4 months. Conclusions Gastric ESD training using the G-Master is a simple, fast, and effective method for pre-ESD training in clinical practice. It is recommended that at least 10 training sessions be conducted.

Background/Aims: The efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early-stage gastric cancer is well established. However, its acquisition is challenging owing to its complexity. In Japan, G-Master is a novel ex vivo gastric ESD training model. The effectiveness of training using G-Master is unknown. This study evaluated the efficacy of gastric ESD training using the G-Master to evaluate trainees’ learning curves and performance. Methods: Four trainees completed 30 ESD training sessions using the G-Master, and procedure time, resection area, resection completion, en-bloc resection requirement, and perforation occurrence were measured. Resection speed was the primary endpoint, and learning curves were evaluated using the Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) method. Results: All trainees completed the resection and en-bloc resection of the lesion without any intraoperative perforations. The learning curves covered three phases: initial growth, plateau, and late growth. The transition from phase 1 to phase 2 required a median of 10 sessions. Each trainee completed 30 training sessions in approximately 4 months. Conclusions Gastric ESD training using the G-Master is a simple, fast, and effective method for pre-ESD training in clinical practice. It is recommended that at least 10 training sessions be conducted.

Objective: Although gastrointestinal symptoms are common immediate reactions to food allergies (FA), the relationship between acute pancreatitis (AP) and FA remains unclear.Patient: A 3-year-old boy developed vomiting, dyspnea, and urticaria 30 min after eating a cashew nut (CN) and was diagnosed with anaphylaxis.Results: The patient was diagnosed with AP based on markedly elevated serum pancreatic amylase activity (1,847 IU/L) and mild pancreatic enlargement on abdominal ultrasonography, despite the absence of abdominal pain. All symptoms resolved immediately after intramuscular adrenaline injection, and serum pancreatic amylase activity normalized after 3 days. CN allergy was diagnosed based on blood tests showing elevated serum levels of CN- and Ana o 3-specific immunoglobulin E.Conclusions: This is the first reported case of AP associated with anaphylaxis due to a CN allergy. AP should be considered in patients with FA who present with gastrointestinal symptoms, even if vomiting is the only symptom and abdominal pain is absent. AP associated with anaphylaxis may resolve rapidly with appropriate treatment.

Background/Aims: The efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early-stage gastric cancer is well established. However, its acquisition is challenging owing to its complexity. In Japan, G-Master is a novel ex vivo gastric ESD training model. The effectiveness of training using G-Master is unknown. This study evaluated the efficacy of gastric ESD training using the G-Master to evaluate trainees’ learning curves and performance. Methods: Four trainees completed 30 ESD training sessions using the G-Master, and procedure time, resection area, resection completion, en-bloc resection requirement, and perforation occurrence were measured. Resection speed was the primary endpoint, and learning curves were evaluated using the Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) method. Results: All trainees completed the resection and en-bloc resection of the lesion without any intraoperative perforations. The learning curves covered three phases: initial growth, plateau, and late growth. The transition from phase 1 to phase 2 required a median of 10 sessions. Each trainee completed 30 training sessions in approximately 4 months. Conclusions Gastric ESD training using the G-Master is a simple, fast, and effective method for pre-ESD training in clinical practice. It is recommended that at least 10 training sessions be conducted.

Purpose: To evaluate prolonged esomeprazole use in Japanese pediatric patients for reflux esophagitis (RE) maintenance therapy and prevention of gastric (GU) and/or duodenal ulcers (DU) while using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or low-dose aspirin (LDA). Methods: This multicenter, open-label, parallel-group, phase III study (NCT03553563) included patients who were administered esomeprazole according to body weight (10 mg/day [Groups 1 and 3] and up to 20 mg/day [Groups 2 and 4] for patients weighing 10–20 kg and ≥20 kg, respectively). Efficacy outcomes for Groups 1 and 2 (maintenance therapy for healed RE) and Groups 3 and 4 (prevention of long-term NSAID/LDA use-associated GU/DU) were the presence/absence of RE relapse and GU/DU recurrence, respectively. Results: Esomeprazole as maintenance therapy was associated with a low RE recurrence rate, independent of body weight or dosage. Recurrence rates of RE were 0.0% and 5.3% for Groups 1 and 2, respectively. In patients previously diagnosed with GU and/or DU due to long-term NSAID/LDA use, the recurrence rates of GU/DU during weeks 0–32 were 11.1% and 0.0% in Groups 3 and 4, respectively. Conclusion Long-term use of 10- or 20-mg, once-daily esomeprazole demonstrated a favorable benefit-risk balance in preventing RE and suppressing recurrence of GU and/or DU secondary to NSAID or LDA therapy in Japanese pediatric patients. No new safety concerns were identified. Esomeprazole may be a viable option for managing RE and preventing GU and DU in Japanese pediatric patients.