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People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or higher levels of autistic traits have atypical characteristics in sensory processing. Atypicalities have been reported for proprioceptive judgments, which are tightly related to internal bodily representations underlying position sense. However, no research has directly investigated whether self‐bodily representations are different in individuals with ASD. Implicit hand maps, estimated based on participants' proprioceptive sensations without sight of their hand, are known to be distorted such that the shape is stretched along the medio‐lateral hand axis even for neurotypical participants. Here, with the view of ASD as falling on a continuous distribution among the general population, we explored differences in implicit body representations along with autistic traits by focusing on relationships between autistic traits and the magnitudes of the distortions in implicit hand maps (N ~ 100). We estimated the magnitudes of distortions in implicit hand maps both for fingers and hand surfaces on the dorsal and palmar sides of the hand. Autistic traits were measured by questionnaires (Autism Spectrum [AQ] and Empathy/Systemizing [EQ‐SQ] Quotients). The distortions in implicit hand maps were replicated in our experimental situations. However, there were no significant relationships between autistic traits and the magnitudes of the distortions as well as within‐individual variabilities in the maps and localization performances. Consistent results were observed from comparisons between IQ‐matched samples of people with and without a diagnosis of ASD. Our findings suggest that there exist perceptual and neural processes for implicit body representations underlying position sense consistent across levels of autistic traits. Lay Summary: Atypicalities related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been reported for position sense, our ability to tell where our body parts are even when we cannot see them. People's internal hand images, estimated based on judgments of where different parts of the hands were located without seeing the hand, are shown to be distorted against the physical shapes, even in the general population. We investigated relationships between autistic traits and the distortions in internal hand images in the general population. We found no significant relationships between these measurements. Consistent results were observed from comparisons between people with and without ASD. These findings suggest that the perceptual and neural processes for internal body images are consistent across different levels of autistic traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder exhibit atypical taste perception and eating behaviours. However, little is known about the effect of autistic traits on eating behaviours in the general population. This study explored the relationships between autistic traits, taste preferences, taste perceptions, and eating behaviours among Japanese population using an online questionnaire survey. The results showed significant effect of autistic traits on eating behaviours, that people with higher autistic traits tended to have higher selective eating behaviours, such as increased sensitivity to food texture and mixed flavours. Moreover, selective eating behaviours were correlated with the preference for sour taste and aftertaste sensitivity. Those results suggest that eating behaviours can be influenced by the relationship between autistic traits, taste perceptions, and taste preferences. We discuss these results in the context of previous findings, and future investigations into the possibility of solving selective eating problems in individuals with autism. Key points: Autistic traits were significantly correlated with eating behaviours.People with higher autistic traits tended to have higher selective eating behaviours, such as increased sensitivity to food texture and mixed flavours.People who like sour tastes tended to have less selective eating behaviours.People who are sensitive to aftertaste perception tended to have greater selective eating behaviours.Autistic traits, taste perceptions, and taste preferences play a role in the development of a number of selective eating behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sarcoidosis is a chronic and systemic inflammatory disease, in which patients present with noncaseating epithelioid granulomas. Cutaneous lesions of sarcoidosis develop in 9% to 35% of all sarcoidosis patients and comprise various clinical subtypes. It usually affects multiple organs and has a variable clinical course; this is called systemic sarcoidosis (SS). However, occasionally, it only affects the skin and is then called cutaneous sarcoidosis (CS). Recent observations suggest that serum levels of soluble CD163 correlate with immune cell activity in sarcoidosis patients; however, the contribution of M1 and M2 macrophages toward disease progression remains unclear. Methods: We evaluated macrophage phenotypes histopathologically using skin biopsy samples obtained from patients with CS (n = 8) and SS (n = 31) and performed immunostaining with CD68, iNOS (M1 macrophages), PD‐L1, and CD163 (M2 macrophages). Results: The density of CD163‐positive cells in the SS group was significantly higher than that in the CS group. There was no significant correlation between the CD163 (+) cell density and serum angiotensin‐converting enzyme level, serum calcium, or tuberculin reaction. Conclusions: Immunostaining for CD163 may be a novel and useful marker to predict systemic involvement in patients with cutaneous lesions of epithelioid granulomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With consideration of the ongoing developments in treatment options for cutaneous melanoma, the Japanese Skin Cancer Society published the first guidelines for cutaneous melanoma in 2007 and later revised them in 2015. Here, we report on an English version of the 2019 Japanese Melanoma Guidelines. In this latest edition, all processes were carried out according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. A comprehensive published work search, systematic review and determination of recommendations in each clinical question were performed by a multidisciplinary expert panel consisting of dermatologists, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, and a radiation oncologist. The advent of novel agents, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and molecular‐targeted agents, has drastically changed the nature of treatment for adjuvant and advanced‐stage diseases among melanoma patients worldwide. Additionally, recent reports of clinical trials regarding surgical procedures and a better understanding of molecular biology and tumor immunology in clinical types of melanoma have had an impact on clinical practise. Based on these viewpoints, eight relevant clinical questions were raised in this report that aim to help clinicians select the appropriate therapeutic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate whether increased laxity of the knee during daily physical activities such as stair climbing is associated with progression of knee joint osteoarthritis (OA). Methods During the years 2001-2003, 136 patients with bilateral primary medial compartment knee joint OA were enrolled in this prospective study. Baseline data collected were body mass index (BMI), muscle power, radiographic joint space width, mechanical axis on standing radiography, and anteroposterior (AP) knee laxity before and after physical exercise. After 8 years of followup, 84 patients were reexamined to assess radiographic changes. Radiographic disease progression was defined as progression of >1 grade on the Kellgren/Lawrence scale. Results AP knee laxity increased significantly after stair climbing. Patients with OA progression and those without progression did not differ significantly in age, sex, baseline quadriceps muscle strength, mechanical axis, joint space width, and AP knee laxity before exercise. The 2 groups of patients did, however, differ significantly in baseline BMI and change in AP knee laxity due to exercise. The risk of progression of knee OA increased 4.15-fold with each millimeter of increase in the change in AP knee laxity due to exercise and 1.24-fold with each point increase in the BMI. Conclusion Our results indicate that patients with OA progression have significantly greater changes in knee joint laxity during physical activities and a higher BMI than patients without OA progression. These findings suggest that larger changes in knee laxity during repetitive physical activities and a higher BMI play significant roles in the progression of knee OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of this study were to investigate the prevalence of anticipatory nausea (AN), its associated factors, and its impact on quality of life (QOL) among ambulatory cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Patients were randomly selected to participate in this study, and were asked to complete the Morrow Assessment of Nausea and Emesis scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Short-form Supportive Care Needs Survey questionnaire, and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Complete data were available for 214 patients. A total of 10.3% of the patients experienced very mild to severe AN. The presence of AN was significantly associated with most domains of the investigated patients' outcome, including psychological distress and perceived needs, with the exception of the health system and information domain of patients' needs, and the physical functioning domain of QOL. Anticipatory nausea was also associated with QOL even after adjustments for age, sex, performance status, and psychological distress. The prevalence of AN in ambulatory cancer patients who receive chemotherapy may not be as high as previously reported. However, given its potentially significant impact on relevant outcome, including QOL, AN should not be neglected in current clinical oncology practice. ( Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 2596-2660) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive skin tumour, with a recent rise in incidence. Nivolumab is a recently developed anti-programmed cell death-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor and its usage has resulted in a significant improvement in the overall survival of patients with metastatic melanomas. We report a case of advanced melanoma that showed a significant and rapid response to nivolumab treatment. The patient displayed multiple melanoma-associated vitiligo prior to treatment; this symptom was theorised to indicate potentially immunoreactive melanoma and the need for nivolumab. In addition, interferon-β was injected prior to nivolumab treatment. The significant rapid response to nivolumab suggested the induction of a marked immune response against melanoma by interferon-β. Therefore, interferon-β could be a useful and effective adjuvant for nivolumab therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The femorotibial contact point on the sagittal plane was measured under weight-bearing conditions in 45 subjects with implanted and nonimplanted knees. They consisted of 11 knees with flat bearing inserts, 16 knees with shallow dished inserts, 10 knees with posterior lipped inserts, 10 knees with posterior stabilized bearing inserts, and 8 normal knees selected as controls. The average amount of anterior translation of the knee with a flat bearing insert was significantly larger than that of the other implanted knees. The average femorotibial contact point did not differ significantly among knees with shallow dished, posterior lipped, and posterior stabilized bearing inserts, but posterior stabilized knees exhibited most frequently a normal posterior movement. Based on our results, it may be safer to use more anteroposterior constrained bearing inserts in total knee arthroplasty, particularly when the posterior cruciate ligament is loose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 40-year-old Japanese woman was referred with subcutaneous nodules on her buttocks had a history of infertility treated with HMG and hCG injections in shoulder during the follicular phase and progesterone injections in her buttocks during the luteal phase. It discusses the biopsy specimen revealed subcutaneous cysts and the infiltration of focal inflammatory cells into the subcutaneous tissue and subsequent treatment provided to the patient.

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis is a rare disorder that presents as a cyclical cutaneous eruption during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. It typically occurs in women due to an autoimmune phenomenon to endogenous progesterone production. We describe a 34-year-old woman with an erythematous round plaque with blistering, which recurred a few days before her menstrual cycle, at the identical site on the left arm. The diagnosis of autoimmune progesterone dermatitis is made with i.d. skin testing on the affected lesion with progesterone. After the beginning of oral prednisolone (40 mg daily) therapy during menstruation, although slight recurrence appeared, the severity was significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]