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Background: Masseter muscle activity during wakefulness may be associated with temporomandibular disorder (TMD)‐related symptoms, psychosocial status and pain‐related disability; however, this relationship is unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between masseter muscle electromyography (EMG) burst/duration during wakefulness and TMD‐related symptoms, psychosocial status and pain‐related disability. Methods: Sixty participants were assessed masseter muscle activity during wakefulness using a data‐logger‐type ultraminiature EMG system and TMD‐related symptoms, psychosocial status and pain‐related disability through Axis I and II of the diagnostic criteria for TMD (DC/TMD). EMG bursts lasting longer than 0.25 s but less than 2.0 s and those lasting longer than 2.0 s were classified as phasic and tonic bursts, respectively. Results: Participants with palpation‐related pain in the temporalis and masseter muscles, as assessed through the DC/TMD examination form in Axis I, had more bursts (number/h) (p =.035 and p =.009, respectively) and longer duration (time/h) (p =.013 and p =.004, respectively) of tonic bursts of the masseter muscle during wakefulness. Participants with palpation‐related pain in the masseter muscles had higher oral behaviour scores during wakefulness using Axis II (p =.001), which affected the number and duration of tonic bursts of the masseter muscle activity during wakefulness (p =.011 and p =.007, respectively). Conclusion: As tonic bursts mainly reflect clenching, individuals with pain in the masseter muscles by palpation may have a high frequency and longer duration of clenching, as well as a high frequency of oral behaviours during wakefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background Objectives Methods Results Conclusion Intra‐oesophageal acid stimulation increases masseter muscle activity. However, the infusion speeds used in previous studies are significantly slow, with minimal acid volume (30 mL over 30 min). Additionally, it is unclear how masseter muscle activity, symptoms of discomfort, stress levels and saliva quantity change over time.The time course of masseter muscle activity, heartburn and discomfort symptoms, salivary cortisol concentration to assess stress, autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and saliva quantity under the influence of intra‐oesophageal acid infusion were evaluated at a faster injection rate and larger volume than in previous studies.Ten healthy adults underwent polygraphic monitoring, consisting of electromyography of the masseter muscle and electrocardiography during intra‐oesophageal acid infusion (10 mL/min, 10 min). Symptoms of heartburn and discomfort were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and saliva quantity was measured. Friedman's test was used for multiple comparisons.Masseter muscle activity, VAS scores for heartburn and discomfort, as well as saliva quantity during the 10‐min acid infusion, increased significantly compared with that before acid infusion (p < 0.001, 0.001, 0.019 and 0.047, respectively) and decreased 10 and 20 min after acid infusion (p = 0.004, 0.004 and 0.007, respectively). No significant changes were observed in the salivary cortisol concentration or ANS activity.Intra‐oesophageal acid infusion stimulated symptoms of heartburn and discomfort and increased masseter muscle activity and saliva production, which may not be related to psychological stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radical cystectomy is an invasive procedure frequently followed by postoperative complications. Although the protocol of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is used in the postoperative course, several components of the ERAS protocol may increase the workload of medical workers. In this study, we added naldemedine tosylate only to routine postoperative management instead of using the ERAS protocol and evaluated the effect on the postoperative course of robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). We retrospectively investigated 58 patients who underwent RARC from May 2015 to February 2022 at our hospital and evaluated the postoperative complications, such as ileus and urinary tract infections, and, length of hospital stay (LOS). We used naldemedine tosylate for the patients who underwent RARC after November 2019. As a result, naldemedine tosylate reduced 26.8% of postoperative complications within 30 days after the operation (p＝0.041) and shortened LOS 8 days (p＝0.018). Naldemesine tosylate improved the postoperative course of RARC.

Castleman's disease is a rare lymphoproliferative disease, mostly found in the mediastinum. The number of Castleman's disease cases involving the kidneys is still limited. We report a case of primary renal Castleman's disease sporadically detected during a regular health check-up as pyelonephritis with ureteral stones. In addition, computed tomography showed renal pelvic and ureteral wall thickening with paraaortic lymphadenopathy. A lymph node biopsy was performed, but it did not confirm either malignancy or Castleman's disease. The patient underwent open nephroureterectomy for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The pathological diagnosis was renal and retroperitoneal lymph node Castleman's disease with pyelonephritis.

We report the use of combination chemotherapy of gemcitabine (800 mg/m² on day1 and 8) and nedaplatin (60 mg/m² on day 1), including neoadjuvant therapy in four cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary tract. In each case, the dose was reduced after assessing the performance status and renal function of the patient. Among the four cases, the best overall outcome was complete response in one case, partial response in two cases, and stable disease in one case. The main adverse event observed was thrombocytopenia; however, no serious adverse events were observed, and this regimen was safely administered. Therefore, we believe that this regimen could be an effective treatment option for progressive squamous cell carcinoma originating from the urinary tract.

In this case report, we describe a case of primary retroperitoneal neuroendocrine carcinoma. An 85- year-old man presented with a 3-week history of left back pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed an 8×5 cm mass to the left of the aorta and multiple hepatic metastases. Immunohistochemistry staining of the tumor cells showed positivity for the neuroendocrine marker synaptophysin and a very high Ki67 proliferation index. He was treated with carboplatin and etoposide. After 2 courses of chemotherapy, the mass had decreased in size, confirming that the treatment was effective. We plan to administer a total of 6 courses of chemotherapy.