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Abstract Introduction Differences in predictability of ablation success for premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) between earliest isochronal map area (EIA), local activation time (LAT) differences on unipolar and bipolar electrograms (⊿LATBi‐Uni), LAT prematurity on bipolar electrograms (LATBi), and unipolar morphology of QS or Q pattern remain unclear. We verified multiple statistical predictabilities of those indicators of ablation success on mapped cardiac surface. Methods Thirty‐five patients with multiple PVCs underwent catheter ablation after LAT mapping using multipolar mapping catheters with unipolar‐based annotation. Patients were divided into success and failure groups based on ablation success on mapped cardiac surfaces. Discrimination ability, reclassification table, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis of 10 ms EIA (EIA10ms), ⊿LATBi‐Uni, and LATBi were validated. Unipolar morphology was compared between success and failure groups. Results Right ventricular outflow tract, aortic cusp, and left ventricle were mapped in 17, 10, and 8 patients, respectively. In 14/35 (40%) patients, successful ablation was performed on mapped cardiac surfaces. Area under the curve of receiver‐operating characteristic curve of EIA10ms, ⊿LATBi‐Uni, and LATBi were 0.874, 0.801, and 0.650, respectively (EIA10ms vs. LATBi, p =.014; ⊿LATBi‐Uni vs. LATBi, p =.278; EIA10ms vs. ⊿LATBi‐Uni, p =.464). EIA10ms and ⊿LATBi‐Uni demonstrated better predictability, calibration, and clinical utility on reclassification table, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis than LATBi. Unipolar morphology of QS or Q pattern did not correlate with ablation success (p =.518). Conclusion EIA10ms and ⊿LATBi‐Uni more accurately predict ablation success for PVCs on mapped cardiac surfaces than LATBi and unipolar morphology.

Abstract Aim To assess the impact of perioperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI) changes on prognosis and recurrence after colorectal cancer surgery. Methods A total of 475 patients who underwent curative resection for primary colorectal adenocarcinoma and were diagnosed with pathological stage (pStage) II/III were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: the high group (preoperative PNI ≤ postoperative PNI, n = 290) and the low group (preoperative PNI > postoperative PNI, n = 185). Results The low group exhibited significantly higher recurrence and mortality rates (all p

ABSTRACT Blunt abdominal trauma causing intraperitoneal injury and/or bleeding can be life‐threatening, requiring immediate intervention. Diagnosing these cases can be challenging, especially when pre‐existing conditions are involved. Low‐grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) is a rare tumor of the appendix that can lead to pseudomyxoma peritonei. Herein, we present a case of ruptured LAMN following blunt abdominal trauma after a high‐energy head‐on collision, complicating the differentiation from other intraperitoneal injuries. A 42‐year‐old Japanese female was brought to our hospital following high‐energy head‐on collision. She presented with stable vital signs, complaining of anterior chest pain and abdominal tenderness without peritoneal irritation. Computed tomography scans indicated multiple fractures in her chest and complex fluid around the Douglas fossa extending to the ileocecal area, with a slightly dilated appendix tip. Despite stable vitals, emergency laparotomy was needed for suspected peritonitis and/or intraperitoneal hemorrhage. Emergency laparotomy revealed yellowish, jelly‐like ascites and a ruptured appendiceal tumor. LAMN was suspected, and the appendix was completely resected, with cytoreductive surgery carefully performed. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of LAMN. Postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on Day 13 and referred for further LAMN management. This case report highlights the diagnostic difficulties of LAMN rupture following blunt abdominal trauma, stressing the need to consider rare conditions like LAMN in differential diagnoses of acute abdomen posttrauma.

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma invasion of the bile duct is rare and has a poor prognosis. A 77‐year‐old man presented at the emergency department with persistent pain in the right hypochondrium. Blood tests and imaging studies revealed a 70‐mm occupying lesion in the right lobe of the liver and dilated intrahepatic bile ducts. He was diagnosed with obstructive jaundice and cholangitis. Imaging studies showed an internal mass with poor contrast effects. A liver biopsy was performed to confirm the diagnosis and hepatocellular carcinoma was suspected. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic ultrasound, and peroral cholangioscopy were performed to determine the treatment strategy. The bile duct invasion did not extend to the porta hepatis; therefore, right hepatic lobectomy and radical resection were performed. Bile duct invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma is rare and often difficult to diagnose by computed tomography or conventional endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. However, endoscopic ultrasound and peroral cholangioscopy enable safe and accurate diagnosis of the extent of invasion.

Abstract Background Whether immunotherapy improves the efficacy or worsens adverse events of subsequent chemotherapy remains unclear. We performed a Phase 2 study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nanoparticle albumin‐bound paclitaxel (nab‐paclitaxel) as a treatment for advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after treatment with programmed cell death 1 or programmed death ligand 1 [PD‐(L)1] inhibitor failure. Methods Nab‐paclitaxel (100 mg/m2) was administered on Days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28‐day cycle to patients with advanced NSCLC within 12 weeks after the failure of PD‐(L)1 inhibitor treatment. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) in all patients; the secondary endpoints were disease control rate (DCR), progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. Results Thirty cases were registered, and 29 cases were included in the analysis. The ORR was 55.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 28.1%–79.6%) and the DCR was 86.2% (95% CI: 65.9%–97.0%). The median PFS was 5.6 months (95% CI: 4.4–6.7 months), and PFS rates at 1‐ and 2‐year timepoints were 34.5% and 13.3%, respectively. The median OS was 11.9 months (95% CI: 0.8–23.0 months). Good performance status and responder of previous PD‐(L)1 inhibitor therapy were independent predictors of PFS. Grade 3 or higher toxicities included leukopenia (27.6%), neutropenia (31.0%), peripheral sensory neuropathy (6.9%), increased alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels (3.4%), and interstitial lung disease (3.4%). Conclusions Nab‐paclitaxel therapy improved ORR after PD‐(L)1 inhibitor treatment failure with a durable response of 13% and acceptable toxicities in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Abstract A novel small‐signal detection method that focuses on detection rather than measurement is proposed. It is particularly useful when a sensor is implanted within a living body. Unlike conventional methods, the proposed method detects signals by converting the input signal into a frequency change of an oscillator and monitoring the change in frequency. Its main advantage is the possibility of greatly reducing the circuit size and power consumption compared to conventional methods. To verify the proposed method, a simple implementation experiment using an actual device is performed. Consequently, pulse signals were successfully detected using the proposed method. It is believed that with appropriate implementation, the circuit can detect many types of signals. It is expected that the proposed method can facilitate the collection of small‐signal data and promote its analysis, thereby contributing to the development of various fields.

Abstract Aims Fibrosis‐4 index (FIB‐4 index), calculated by age, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and platelet count, is a simple marker to evaluate liver fibrosis and is associated with right‐sided heart failure. However, the clinical relevance of FIB‐4 in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains unclear. We investigated the prognostic implication of the FIB‐4 index regarding right ventricular dysfunction in patients with HFpEF. Methods and results This prospective study included 116 consecutive HFpEF patients (mean age 79 years, 43% male) hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure. We evaluated the association of the FIB‐4 index with right ventricular function determined by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (S′) before discharge. Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between the FIB‐4 index and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) defined as the composite of cardiovascular death, readmission for heart failure, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke. FIB‐4 index before discharge was significantly lower than that at admission (2.62 [1.92–3.46] and 3.03 [2.05–4.67], median [interquartile range], P

Abstract Aims/Introduction We evaluated the efficacy of multifactorial intensive treatment (IT) on renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and advanced‐stage diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Materials and Methods The Diabetic Nephropathy Remission and Regression Team Trial in Japan (DNETT‐Japan) is a multicenter, open‐label, randomized controlled trial with a 5‐year follow‐up period. We randomly assigned 164 patients with advanced‐stage diabetic kidney disease (urinary albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio ≥300 mg/g creatinine, serum creatinine level 1.2–2.5 mg/dL in men and 1.0–2.5 mg/dL in women) to receive either IT or conventional treatment. The primary composite outcome was end‐stage kidney failure, doubling of serum creatinine or death from any cause, which was assessed in the intention‐to‐treat population. Results The IT tended to reduce the risk of primary end‐points as compared with conventional treatment, but the difference between treatment groups did not reach the statistically significant level (hazard ratio 0.69, 95% confidence interval 0.43–1.11; P = 0.13). Meanwhile, the decrease in serum low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level and the use of statin were significantly associated with the decrease in primary outcome (hazard ratio 1.14; 95% confidence interval 1.05–1.23, P

Abstract Nonlinear dynamical systems serving reservoir computing enrich the physical implementation of computing systems. A method for building physical reservoirs from electrochemical reactions is provided, and the potential of chemical dynamics as computing resources is shown. The essence of signal processing in such systems includes various degrees of ionic currents which pass through the solution as well as the electrochemical current detected based on a multiway data acquisition system to achieve switchable and parallel testing. The results show that they have respective advantages in periodic signals and temporal dynamic signals. Polyoxometalate molecule in the solution increases the diversity of the response current and thus improves their abilities to predict periodic signals. Conversely, distilled water exhibits great computing power in solving a second‐order nonlinear problem. It is expected that these results will lead to further exploration of ionic conductance as a nonlinear dynamical system and provide more support for novel devices as computing resources.

Paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS) is associated with malignancies, including small-cell lung cancer. Recently, PNS cases among patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors have increased. We herein report a 66-year-old man with SCLC who developed disorientation, dysphagia, and gait disturbance after three courses of treatment with atezolizumab. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a high-intensity area in the bilateral temporal lobes. Blood test results were positive for anti-Hu and anti-Zic4 antibodies, which led to the diagnosis of limbic encephalitis as PNS. Some symptoms improved with intravenous administration of steroids and immunoglobulins.

Abstract Aims/Introduction Although patient self‐efficacy is known to affect adherence to therapy, no available tool measures self‐efficacy of insulin therapy administration while addressing the entire therapeutic process and management. In light of this, we developed the ‘Insulin Therapy Self‐efficacy Scale (ITSS).’ Materials and Methods Development of the ITSS involved three phases: (i) item generation and creation of a questionnaire draft; (ii) testing and correcting the items through interviews with patients; and (iii) a multicenter, single‐arm study to validate the questionnaire. Results A factor analysis and Cronbach's α both confirmed good internal consistency in the patients’ confidence regarding the following four factors: the insulin injection procedure, insulin titration, glycemic control and ability to cope with hypoglycemia. Reproducibility was confirmed using weighted κ statistics and intraclass correlations. Good concurrent validity was confirmed with two other questionnaires. The ITSS score was also found to correlate with several patient characteristics and clinical parameters, as well as with a better adherence to injected insulin therapy 6 months later, suggesting the predictive validity of this scale. Conclusions The ITSS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing and quantifying patients’ self‐efficacy. The ITSS estimation of self‐efficacy can predict a patient's glycemic control and future adherence to insulin therapy. These characteristics will ensure the usefulness of the ITSS in ensuring a successful therapeutic process for patients and physicians.