Regional Health Information Exchange (HIE) networks have been introduced to facilitate information sharing between hospitals and clinics. An overview of the accessed patient information was conducted to enhance HIE utilization in Shimane Prefecture. Clinics and home nursing facilities had the most substantial browsing activity, followed by hospitals. Clinics were the ones that most frequently accessed hospital information. The numbers of home nursing facilities and clinics that accessed hospital information were comparable. The primary information requests focused on patients’ medical records (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan). HIEs have diverse functionalities and are indispensable for those accustomed to them; however, global challenges persist in improving their overall adoption. To further encourage the utilization of HIEs, it is essential to analyze current usage patterns thoroughly, model practical usage scenarios, and generate interest in a broader user base.

The purpose was to assess the nutritional characteristics of patients repeatedly hospitalized with acute heart failure (AHF). We enrolled 60 patients with hospitalized at least three times within four years. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) was used as a nutritional index. The patients were divided into three groups based on changes in GNRI: (1) Good group, good or mild decrease in nutritional status (GNRI ≥92); (2) Change group, nutritional status changed; and (3) Poor group, moderate to severe malnutrition status (GNRI <92). Of the 60 patients, there were 23 in the Good group (38.3%), 23 in the Change group (38.3%), and 14 in the Poor group (23.4%). The overall GNRI decreased at every hospitalization. The rate of cognitive impairment (CI) was highest and handgrip strength was lowest in the Poor group. In multivariate analysis, CI was independently associated with the Poor group. The patients with persistent malnutrition were characterized by CI.

We compared the efficacy of an initial intravitreal aflibercept injection (IVA) followed by pro re nata (additional injection as needed) with that of intravitreal ranibizumab injection (IVR) for the treatment of naive patients with macular edema (ME) due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Thirty-four consecutive patients (IVA group, n = 20; IVR group, n = 14) were reviewed retrospectively. A significant improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and reduction in central retinal thickness (CRT) from baseline at all time points was noted in both the groups but not between the groups. The rate of ME recurrence at 3 months was significantly smaller in the IVA group than in the IVR group, and the time between initial IV and the first ME recurrence was also significantly longer in the IVA group. In the early stages of ME caused by BRVO, aflibercept might have a sustained effect on ME suppression than ranibizumab.