Purpose: Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) expression is a useful predictor of treatment efficacy in advanced non-squamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to evaluate whether TTF-1 could predict the effectiveness of chemotherapy versus chemoimmunotherapy in patients with non-squamous NSCLC with programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression between 1% and 49%. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients with NSCLC who were treated with chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy between March 2016 and May 2023. The patients had histologically confirmed NSCLC, stage III-IV or postoperative recurrence, TTF-1 measurements, and PD-L1 expression levels between 1% and 49%. Clinical data were analyzed to evaluate the effect of TTF-1 expression on treatment efficacy. Results: This study included 283 of 624 patients. TTF-1–positive patients showed longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (PFS: 6.4 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.0 to 9.4] vs. 4.1 months [95% CI, 2.7 to 6.1], p=0.03; OS: 17.9 months [95% CI, 15.2 to 28.1] vs. 9.4 months [95% CI, 6.3 to 17.0], p < 0.01) in the chemotherapy cohorts (n=93). In the chemoimmunotherapy cohort (n=190), there was no significant difference in PFS and OS between TTF-1–positive and –negative groups (PFS: 7.6 months [95% CI, 6.4 to 11.0] vs. 6.0 months [95% CI, 3.6 to 12.6], p=0.59; OS: 25.0 months [95% CI, 18.0 to 49.2] vs. 21.3 months [95% CI, 9.8 to 28.8], p=0.09). Conclusion In patients with NSCLC with PD-L1 expression between 1% and 49%, TTF-1 expression was a predictor of chemotherapeutic, but not chemoimmunotherapeutic, efficacy.

Purpose: Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) expression is a useful predictor of treatment efficacy in advanced non-squamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to evaluate whether TTF-1 could predict the effectiveness of chemotherapy versus chemoimmunotherapy in patients with non-squamous NSCLC with programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression between 1% and 49%. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients with NSCLC who were treated with chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy between March 2016 and May 2023. The patients had histologically confirmed NSCLC, stage III-IV or postoperative recurrence, TTF-1 measurements, and PD-L1 expression levels between 1% and 49%. Clinical data were analyzed to evaluate the effect of TTF-1 expression on treatment efficacy. Results: This study included 283 of 624 patients. TTF-1–positive patients showed longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (PFS: 6.4 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.0 to 9.4] vs. 4.1 months [95% CI, 2.7 to 6.1], p=0.03; OS: 17.9 months [95% CI, 15.2 to 28.1] vs. 9.4 months [95% CI, 6.3 to 17.0], p < 0.01) in the chemotherapy cohorts (n=93). In the chemoimmunotherapy cohort (n=190), there was no significant difference in PFS and OS between TTF-1–positive and –negative groups (PFS: 7.6 months [95% CI, 6.4 to 11.0] vs. 6.0 months [95% CI, 3.6 to 12.6], p=0.59; OS: 25.0 months [95% CI, 18.0 to 49.2] vs. 21.3 months [95% CI, 9.8 to 28.8], p=0.09). Conclusion In patients with NSCLC with PD-L1 expression between 1% and 49%, TTF-1 expression was a predictor of chemotherapeutic, but not chemoimmunotherapeutic, efficacy.

Purpose: Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) expression is a useful predictor of treatment efficacy in advanced non-squamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to evaluate whether TTF-1 could predict the effectiveness of chemotherapy versus chemoimmunotherapy in patients with non-squamous NSCLC with programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression between 1% and 49%. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients with NSCLC who were treated with chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy between March 2016 and May 2023. The patients had histologically confirmed NSCLC, stage III-IV or postoperative recurrence, TTF-1 measurements, and PD-L1 expression levels between 1% and 49%. Clinical data were analyzed to evaluate the effect of TTF-1 expression on treatment efficacy. Results: This study included 283 of 624 patients. TTF-1–positive patients showed longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (PFS: 6.4 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.0 to 9.4] vs. 4.1 months [95% CI, 2.7 to 6.1], p=0.03; OS: 17.9 months [95% CI, 15.2 to 28.1] vs. 9.4 months [95% CI, 6.3 to 17.0], p < 0.01) in the chemotherapy cohorts (n=93). In the chemoimmunotherapy cohort (n=190), there was no significant difference in PFS and OS between TTF-1–positive and –negative groups (PFS: 7.6 months [95% CI, 6.4 to 11.0] vs. 6.0 months [95% CI, 3.6 to 12.6], p=0.59; OS: 25.0 months [95% CI, 18.0 to 49.2] vs. 21.3 months [95% CI, 9.8 to 28.8], p=0.09). Conclusion In patients with NSCLC with PD-L1 expression between 1% and 49%, TTF-1 expression was a predictor of chemotherapeutic, but not chemoimmunotherapeutic, efficacy.

Objective: The purposes of this trial were to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the hybrid of intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy (HBT) for locally advanced cervical cancer patients in the phase I/II prospective clinical trial. Methods: Patients with FIGO stage IB2-IVA uterine cervical cancer pretreatment width of which was ≥5 cm measured by magnetic resonance imaging were eligible for this clinical trial. The protocol therapy included 30–30.6 Gy in 15–17 fractions of whole pelvic radiotherapy concurrent with weekly CDDP, followed by 24 Gy in 4 fractions of HBT and pelvic radiotherapy with a central shield up to 50–50.4 Gy in 25–28 fractions. The primary endpoint of phase II part was 2-year pelvic progression-free survival (PPFS) rate higher than historical control of 64%. Results: Between October 2015 and October 2019, 73 patients were enrolled in the initial registration and 52 patients proceeded to the secondary registration. With the median follow-up period of 37.3 months (range, 13.9–52.9 months), the 2- PPFS was 80.7% (90% confidence interval [CI]=69.7%–88%). Because the lower range of 90% CI of 2-year PPFS was 69.7%, which was higher than the historical control ICBT data of 64%, therefore, the primary endpoint of this study was met. Conclusion The effectiveness of HBT were demonstrated by a prospective clinical study. Because the dose goal determined in the protocol was lower than 85 Gy, there is room in improvement for local control. A higher dose might have been needed for tumors with poor responses.

Objective：The Clinical Trunk Control Test (CTCT) is used to assess trunk function worldwide, particularly for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), with good reliability and validity. In Japan, trunk function evaluation methods specialized for patients with SCI are scarce. The aim of the present study was to create a Japanese version of CTCT (CTCT-J) and verify its reliability.Methods：CTCT-J was created using the double-back translation format. The inter-rater reliability was calculated based on the total CTCT-J score and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for each item. The weighted kappa coefficient was calculated for each subtest. To verify internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated for the CTCT-J total score and each item.Results：We enrolled 12 patients with SCI, including ten men and two women, with an average age of 51.9 ± 17.8 years. Nine and three patients had cervical and thoracic SCI, respectively. The ICC for inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.995 to 1.000 (p ＜0.05). The weighted kappa coefficient for each subtest ranged from 0.756 to 1.000 (p ＜0.05). In the internal consistency test, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for all items was 0.995 (p ＜0.05).Conclusion：We created the CTCT-J with double back translation and verified its reliability. Good inter-rater reliability and internal consistency were observed, indicating its applicability in Japan.

Objective：The Clinical Trunk Control Test (CTCT) is used to assess trunk function worldwide, particularly for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), with good reliability and validity. In Japan, trunk function evaluation methods specialized for patients with SCI are scarce. The aim of the present study was to create a Japanese version of CTCT (CTCT-J) and verify its reliability.Methods：CTCT-J was created using the double-back translation format. The inter-rater reliability was calculated based on the total CTCT-J score and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for each item. The weighted kappa coefficient was calculated for each subtest. To verify internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated for the CTCT-J total score and each item.Results：We enrolled 12 patients with SCI, including ten men and two women, with an average age of 51.9 ± 17.8 years. Nine and three patients had cervical and thoracic SCI, respectively. The ICC for inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.995 to 1.000 (p ＜0.05). The weighted kappa coefficient for each subtest ranged from 0.756 to 1.000 (p ＜0.05). In the internal consistency test, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for all items was 0.995 (p ＜0.05).Conclusion：We created the CTCT-J with double back translation and verified its reliability. Good inter-rater reliability and internal consistency were observed, indicating its applicability in Japan.

Objective: Confirmation by pharmacists of brought-in drugs is not only limited to identification of drugs, but also requires prescription design and proposals based on the background of patients and evaluation of associated information. In this study, we analyzed the content of brought-in drugs related PreAVOID reports in our hospital according to the years of pharmacist experience in order to help educate pharmacist for better brought-in drugs confirmation.Method: Various interventions regarding brought-in drugs were compared between two groups: pharmacists with >6 years of experience (group H) and those with < 5 years of experience (group L). PreAVOID reports, which related to drugs brought in by patients admitted to the Ogaki Municipal Hospital between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019 were assessed.Result:The PreAVOID reporting rate for the number of brought-in drugs confirmed was higher in group H (1.56%) than in group L (1.12%) (odds ratio 1.399, p = 0.023). The PreAVOID reporting rate when reporting was based solely on prescription information did not differ between these two groups, but when patient background, including disease-related information, was included with prescription information, the rate was higher in group H (0.80%) than in group L (0.30%) (odds ratio 2.725, p < 0.001). Group H provided more reports related to unnecessary drugs.Conclusion: The involvement of pharmacists in the evaluation of brought-in drugs is important when reviewing subsequent medical treatments. Our findings suggest that to improve the quality of treatment, it is necessary to provide appropriate newcomer education, such as conducting case studies using PreAVOID cases.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the meaning of growing traditional vegetables and the health of elderly people living in rural areas. Data obtained from semi-structured interviews were qualitatively analyzed considering the local social and cultural contexts. The results suggest that cultivating traditional vegetables was related to the following categories: [A means to connect with people], [Facing old age], [A means to maintain physical functions], and [Protecting the community]. Cultivation of traditional vegetables is an activity that uses the five senses and utilizes intellectual functions. Furthermore, it is thought that significance and value will be found in life by building active relationships with people. Therefore, the cultivation of traditional vegetables was considered to be linked to recognizing the existential self and accepting the decline and loss of physical and mental functions to live as oneself.

A 70-year-old woman who was bedridden because of right hemiplegia attributable to a history of cerebral hemorrhage underwent surgical thrombectomy for pulmonary embolism four years previously. Symptoms of heart failure appeared one year previously, and she was diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis and had been treated with medication by a previous doctor. In the current situation, she visited the previous doctor with the chief complaint of fever, and pericardial effusion was observed on echocardiography. Cardiac tamponade was suspected and she was transferred to our hospital. She was then diagnosed with purulent pericarditis because purulent fluid was observed during pericardiocentesis drainage. Bacteroides fragilis was isolated from the culture of the abscess. The abscess was resistant to conservative antibiotic therapy ; therefore, we performed a pericardiotomy with a left small thoracotomy. The pleural effusion was found to be negative for culture and the patient exhibited a good postoperative course. Purulent pericarditis is refractory with poor prognosis. An appropriate surgical procedure must be chosen considering the patient's activities of daily living. Here, we report a surgical case wherein we chose the left thoracotomy approach and achieved positive results.

Objective: Several evidence-based practice guidelines have been developed to better treat bipolar disorder. However, the articles cited in these guidelines were based on clinical or basic studies with specific conditional settings and were not sufficiently based on real-world clinical practice. In particular, there was little information on the doses of mood stabilizers. Methods: The MUlticenter treatment SUrvey on BIpolar disorder in Japanese psychiatric clinics (MUSUBI) is a study conducted to accumulate evidence on the real-world practical treatment of bipolar disorder. The questionnaire included patient characteristics such as comorbidities, mental status, treatment period, Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score, and details of pharmacological treatment. Results: Most patients received mood stabilizers such as lithium (n = 1,317), valproic acid (n = 808), carbamazepine (n = 136), and lamotrigine (n = 665). The dose of lithium was correlated with age, body weight, number of episodes, depression and GAF. The dose of valproic acid was correlated with body weight, number of episodes, presence of a rapid cycle and GAF. The dose of carbamazepine was correlated with age, mania, and the presence of a rapid cycle. The dose of lamotrigine was correlated with the number of episodes, depression, mania, psychotic features, and the presence of a rapid cycle. Doses of coadministered mood stabilizers were significantly correlated, except for the combination of valproic acid and lamotrigine. Conclusion The dose of mood stabilizers was selectively administered based on several factors, such as age, body composition, current mood status and functioning. Further prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.