Internal medicine
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Objective Both a percutaneous biopsy and endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) have been widely performed for liver tumors. However, no studies have compared these two biopsy methods. Method A retrospective study was conducted using medical records for patients who underwent a liver tumor biopsy from 2012 to 2019. ⋯ Adverse events were reported in 17% of the percutaneous group, which was significantly lower than in the EUS group (2%; p <0.01). Conclusion A percutaneous biopsy and EUS-FNA have equivalent diagnostic qualities for liver tumors, although EUS-FNA tends to be associated with fewer adverse events. A complete understanding of the characteristics of each procedure is essential when choosing the best biopsy method for each particular case.
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Objective Patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) are known to have a high mortality rate. However, little is known about the exact reason for this, particularly in adults, because so few reports have been published. The present study examined cardiovascular abnormalities to determine the cause of death in adults with PWS. ⋯ The TAPSE was mildly reduced (mean 16±3 mm). Conclusion These results suggest that subtle cardiovascular abnormalities have already begun in young adults with PWS. We need to manage obesity and the resultant obesity-related disorders in order to prevent heart failure and coronary atherosclerosis in PWS patients.
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Objective The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a shortage of medical resources, including ventilators, personal protective equipment, medical staff, and hospital beds. We investigated the impact of COVID-19 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, their families, caregivers, and medical experts. Methods We conducted a nationwide ALS webinar about COVID-19 in May 2020 and sent a questionnaire to those enrolled. ⋯ In addition, approximately half of the ALS patients agreed with the policy of not ventilating the elderly or ALS patients in case of a ventilator shortage. Furthermore, compared with medical experts, few ALS patients reported that the chance for ALS patients to obtain work was higher due to the increasing availability of remote work. Conclusions This survey indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic might be associated with increased distress about access to care and work, inducing contradictory responses and potential hopelessness among ALS patients.
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Objective Antithrombotic drugs are being used increasingly frequently to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Few studies have evaluated small bowel mucosal injury induced by dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). The aim of the present study was to evaluate small bowel mucosal injury induced by DAPT compared with other antithrombotics using video capsule endoscopy (VCE). ⋯ Exacerbating factors of small bowel ulcers were DAPT [odds ratio (OR) 3.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-7.7] and age over 80 years old (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.4). Conclusion P2Y12 inhibitors seem to exacerbate LDA-induced small bowel injury. Preventive strategies for small bowel injury induced by LDA, especially DAPT, are urgently required.
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We encountered a 70-year-old Japanese woman with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) who had a history of pheochromocytoma and concurrently developed adenomatous goiter, primary hyperparathyroidism, and acromegaly. The patient had a somatotroph adenoma of the adenohypophysis that predisposed her to multinodular goiter. ⋯ The NF1 gene could not be analyzed genetically due to the patient's refusal. The pathophysiologic mechanisms of endocrinopathy concurrence in NF1 remain to be elucidated.