Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019 Apr 24. Epub 2019 Apr 24.

Department of Gastroenterology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Background And Aim: Oral 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is recommended for the therapy of mild to moderate intestinal Behçet's disease (BD). However, the induction remission efficacy and endoscopic outcomes of 5-ASA are unknown. We investigated remission induction at 8 weeks, endoscopic outcomes until 52 weeks, and event-free survival at 52 weeks in patients with intestinal BD treated with 5-ASA. Read More

Dig Liver Dis 2019 Apr 20. Epub 2019 Apr 20.

Department of Endoscopic Medicine, Kobe University Hospital, Japan.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is commonly used to treat early-stage digestive cancer because it results in a higher frequency of en-bloc resection and a lower frequency of local recurrence. However, the efficacy and safety of duodenal ESD remain unclear. Therefore, present study is aimed at evaluating clinical outcomes of duodenal ESD. Read More

Case Rep Dermatol 2019 Jan-Apr;11(1):64-70. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.

Scleromyxedema and lichen myxedematosus (LM) are rare disorders that fall along the spectrum of primary cutaneous mucinoses. Scleromyxedema is a systemic form that classically presents with generalized waxy papules, sclerodermoid eruption, and monoclonal gammopathy; LM is a localized form limited to the skin that classically presents with white, firm, waxy papules and lacks monoclonal gammopathy. According to diagnostic criteria established in 2001, the diagnosis of both conditions requires absence of thyroid disease. Read More

J Allergy Clin Immunol 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and Miami Itch Center Miller School of Medicine University of Miami, Miami, FL. Electronic address:

Pruritus is a sensation that emanates from the skin and is transferred via peripheral nerve fibers to the central nervous system. It is easily understood that primary skin disorders such as atopic eczema, skin dryness, psoriasis, and urticaria can elicit pruritus. However certain systemic diseases can cause chronic pruritus that have significant impact on patients' quality of life. Read More

J Midlife Health 2019 Jan-Mar;10(1):45-47

Department of Pathology, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Medical Faculty, Rize, Turkey.

A wide variety of tissues derived from the three germ layers are seen in ovarian teratomas. Microscopically, the most commonly seen tissues are epidermis, skin adnexa, and neural tissues. Thyroid tissue is present in 10% of ovarian mature cystic teratomas. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Apr 17;20(8). Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Division of Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Hizen Psychiatric Center, Saga 842-0192, Japan.

Low-grade inflammation is implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, and apathy as a form of vascular depression. We analyzed the brain magnetic resonance imaging findings in 259 community-dwelling older adults (122 men and 137 women, with a mean age of 68.4 years). Read More

Tohoku J Exp Med 2019 04;247(4):247-250

Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital.

Nivolumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), is the standard second-line therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the current immunotherapy era, it is often difficult to evaluate the therapeutic effect, disease progression, and pseudo-enlargement of the tumor or the emergence of another etiology. In the present report, we describe a 79-year-old patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) newly detected during nivolumab treatment for recurrent NSCLC. Read More

Diabetes Obes Metab 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Department of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan.

A prospective, multicentre, open-label, blinded-endpoint, randomised controlled study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with ipragliflozin (sodium-dependent glucose transporter-2 inhibitor) versus metformin for visceral fat reduction and glycaemic control among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes treated with sitagliptin, HbA1c levels of 7-10%, and BMI ≥22 kg/m . Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive ipragliflozin 50 mg or metformin 1000-1500 mg daily. The primary outcome was change in visceral fat area as measured by computed tomography after 24 weeks of therapy. Read More

Ochsner J 2019 ;19(1):59-62

The University of Queensland Faculty of Medicine, Ochsner Clinical School, New Orleans, LA.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) encephalitis is an autoimmune disorder first described in 2007. It can cause severe neurologic and psychiatric symptoms, and patients often are misdiagnosed with a primary psychiatric disorder. Anti-NMDA-R encephalitis is an important differential diagnosis of psychosis, as the condition can be treated with the appropriate therapy. Read More

Intern Med 2019 15;58(8):1167-1172. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Neurology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.

Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) is a steroid-responsive autoimmune encephalopathy associated with Hashimoto thyroiditis. We herein report a case of HE manifesting "smoldering" limbic encephalitis with persisting symptoms and abnormalities on examinations. Although our patient experienced partial clinical remission after treatment, hippocampal hypermetabolism on [F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and subclinical seizures on video electroencephalography persisted. Read More

Liver Transpl 2019 Apr 13. Epub 2019 Apr 13.

Department of General Surgery, Digestive Disease & Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.

Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) is known to correlate with severity of portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis. This retrospective study investigated the clinical value of preoperative measurement of HVPG in patients who underwent adult-to-adult LDLT and its predictive value for hepatic hemodynamics after graft reperfusion. For this study, seventy-five patients who underwent adult-to-adult LDLT were divided into two groups (HVPG < 16 mmHg or HVPG > 16 mmHg) to investigate the correlation between preoperative HVPG and characteristics and surgical outcomes of the patients, including portal vein flow (PVF) and hepatic artery flow (HAF) after graft reperfusion. Read More

Am J Reprod Immunol 2019 Apr 11:e13125. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.

Problem: Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a clinical syndrome defined by the loss of ovarian activity before 40 years old. An autoimmune mechanism is suggested to be involved in the development of POI. Therefore, we examined the relationship between peripheral blood regulatory T (Treg) cells and autoantibodies in POI. Read More

Mol Neurodegener 2019 04 12;14(1):15. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Neuropathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.

Background: Based on epidemiological and experimental studies, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), especially insulin resistance that comprises the core mechanism of T2DM, has been recognized as a significant risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Studies in humans and diabetic AD model mice have indicated a correlation between insulin resistance and increased amyloid deposition in the brain. Paradoxically, mice with targeted disruption of genes involved in the insulin signaling pathway showed protective effects against the AD-related pathology. Read More

Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.

Aims: A questionnaire survey of the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was recently conducted in Japan. A subgroup analysis to examine the association of periodontal disease with diabetic retinopathy in subjects with diabetes and prediabetes was conducted.

Methods: The association of the presence of periodontal disease with the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy was examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Read More

Nuklearmedizin 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne.

Aim: Thyroid hemiagenesis (TH) is a rare congenital anomaly in which one thyroid lobe fails to develop. We describe our experience with at least 13 patients presenting with TH at our department.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed patients with TH, who had been referred primarily to our clinic between 2004 and 2010. Read More

Int Heart J 2019 Apr 10. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine.

The association between endothelial function, evaluated using flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and the severity of coronary artery disease remains to be elucidated.A total of 245 consecutive patients with stable angina were prospectively enrolled. FMD was evaluated in the brachial artery before percutaneous coronary intervention. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2019 Apr 11;21(1):91. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the retention rates and reasons for discontinuation for seven biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in a real-world setting of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: This multi-center, retrospective study assessed 4466 treatment courses of 2494 patients with bDMARDs from 2009 to 2017 (females, 82.4%; baseline age, 57. Read More

Thyroid 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

the 1st hospital of China Medical University, Institute of Endocrinology, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism , 155,Nanjing Bei Street , Heping District , Shenyang, Liaoning, China , 110001.

Background: There is growing evidence that sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a pleiotropic bioactive sphingolipid metabolite synthesized intracellularly by two closely related sphingosine kinases (SphK), SphK1 and SphK2, is involved in inflammation. However, the role of SphKs/S1P/S1P receptors (S1PRs) in autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) has not been studied to date.

Method: This study examined whether SphK1/S1P/S1PR1 signaling is aberrantly altered in thyroid tissues and serum of both AIT patients and a spontaneously autoimmune thyroiditis (SAT) mouse model. Read More

J Endocr Soc 2019 Apr 5;3(4):791-800. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Thyroid Interdisciplinary Team, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Context: The impact of Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) on the risk of thyroid cancer and its accurate detection remains unclear. The presence of a chronic lymphocytic infiltration imparts a logical mechanism potentially altering neoplastic transformation, while also influencing the accuracy of diagnostic evaluation.

Methods: We performed a prospective, cohort analysis of 9851 consecutive patients with 21,397 nodules ≥1 cm who underwent nodule evaluation between 1995 and 2017. Read More

Respir Med 2019 Apr 1;150:15-20. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. Electronic address:

Background: Patients with connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) often experience impaired health status. In daily clinical practice, a short and easy instrument for assessing health status would be useful to help better understand the patient's condition. The COPD Assessment Test (CAT) is a simple questionnaire about respiratory symptoms and their impact. Read More

Clin Exp Nephrol 2019 Apr 6. Epub 2019 Apr 6.

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465, Kajii cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 621-8585, Japan.

Background: Insulin resistance is one of the risks of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) has been suggested as a marker of moderate insulin resistance. We aimed to investigate the association between TyG index and incident CKD. Read More

Sci Data 2019 04 5;6(1):20. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Division of Genomic Medicine, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-related, chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a loss of multifocal neurons, resulting in both non-motor and motor symptoms. While several genetic and environmental contributory risk factors have been identified, more exact methods for diagnosing and assessing prognosis of PD have yet to be established. Here we describe the generation and validation of a dataset comprising whole-blood transcriptomes originally intended for use in detection of blood biomarkers and transcriptomic network changes indicative of PD. Read More

World J Gastroenterol 2019 Mar;25(12):1457-1464

Division of Gastroenterology, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, Niigata 951-8510, Japan.

Esophageal diverticula are rare conditions that cause esophageal symptoms, such as dysphagia, regurgitation, and chest pain. They are classified according to their location and characteristic pathophysiology into three types: epiphrenic diverticulum, Zenker's diverticulum, and Rokitansky diverticulum. The former two disorders take the form of protrusions, and symptomatic cases require interventional treatment. Read More

Mod Rheumatol 2019 Apr 5:1-8. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

b Department of Orthopaedic Surgery , Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine , Osaka , Japan.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare median nerve stiffness measured by ultrasound real-time tissue elastography in patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis (RA and non-RA groups, respectively).

Methods: Altogether, 402 hands of 201 RA group and 222 hands of 111 non-RA group were included in the study. Ultrasonography was performed to evaluate the circumference, cross-sectional area (CSA) and strain ratio as an elasticity of the median nerve at the inlet level of the carpal tunnel and the proximal portion of the carpal tunnel inlet. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Apr;98(14):e15055

Department of Radiology, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon.

In this study, we evaluated the association between thyroid echogenicity on ultrasonography (US) and thyroid function in pediatric and adolescent Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) patients.In 86 pediatric and adolescent HT patients, the association between echogenicity and thyroid function and microsomal autoantibody status was evaluated. Among patients with overt hypothyroidism, 89. Read More

Mod Rheumatol 2019 Apr 3:1-17. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

a Department of Biophysics , Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences , Kobe 654-0142 , Japan.

Objective: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the autoimmune disease representing the circadian variations of symptoms such as morning stiffness of joints or increased production of cytokines around midnight. Clock genes have been reported to affect on the pathogenesis of RA, however, the detailed relation between clock genes and disease activities of RA has remained unclear.

Methods: In this study, 15 RA patients treated with bDMARDs were enrolled (TNF inhibitor, 5; IL-6 inhibitor, 5; CTLA4-IgG, 5). Read More

Blood Adv 2019 Apr;3(7):1003-1010

Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) profoundly affects the quality of life of long-term survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT). The eyes are frequently involved, and dry eye syndrome is the most common manifestation of ocular chronic GVHD. We explored the role of heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) in ocular GVHD and developed a novel antifibrotic topical therapy using vitamin A-coupled liposomes containing HSP47 small interfering RNA (siRNA) against HSP47 (VA-lip HSP47). Read More

J Dent (Shiraz) 2019 Mar;20(1):42-47

Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical science, Shiraz, Iran.

Statement Of The Problem: Burning sensation in Hashimoto patient's oral cavity is an unknown prevalent problem.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and intensity of burning mouth syndrome (BMS) in patients suffering from Hashimoto's thyroiditis in all public hospitals in Shiraz, 2016.

Materials And Method: A total of 153 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis were selected based on simple random sampling. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Mar 31;12(3). Epub 2019 Mar 31.

Department of Internal Medicine, Ashikaga Red Cross Hospital, Ashikaga, Tochigi, Japan.

A 70-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease caused by a polycystic kidney disease developed massive right-sided pleural effusion 10 days after the initiation of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Although pleuroperitoneal communication (PPC) was suspected, computed tomographic peritoneography on usual breath holding did not show leakage. Therefore, we instructed her to strain with maximal breathing, which caused a jet of contrast material to stream from the peritoneal cavity into the right pleural cavity and allowed the identification of the exact site of the diaphragm defect. Read More

JDR Clin Trans Res 2018 Oct 27;3(4):405-412. Epub 2018 Jun 27.

2 Division of Comprehensive Prosthodontics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.

Introduction:: Although previous studies have identified various factors related to masticatory performance, which factors affect longitudinal changes in masticatory performance have not been clarified.

Objectives:: We aimed to clarify factors involved in changes to masticatory performance and construct models from factors related to masticatory performance in a longitudinal study of a general urban population in Japan.

Methods:: A total of 1,005 Japanese subjects (411 men, 594 women; mean age at baseline, 65. Read More

Cardiovasc Pathol 2019 Mar 6;40:68-71. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Department of Diagnostic Pathology, NTT Medical Center Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Faculty of Healthcare, Tokyo Healthcare University, Tokyo, Japan.

Enterocolic lymphocytic phlebitis (ELP) is a rare enteropathy characterized by lymphocytic phlebitis of the mesenteric veins without arteritis. Idiopathic myointimal hyperplasia of mesenteric veins (IMHMV) is a rare disease similar to ELP, characterized by myointimal hyperplasia that constricts the lumen of veins, causing mucosal injury. A 62-year-old man with chief complaint of abdominal pain was treated by partial resection of the ileum after 3 months of conservative therapy. Read More

Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2019 Mar;39(8):579-585

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Disease, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.

Objectives: The Hashimoto thyroiditis is found to be Th1-related autoimmunity. Recently, it has been proved that the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) may be involved in promoting Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases. However, the role of RAAS in HT pathogenesis remains still unknown. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.

To investigate specific disease patterns in the rheumatic manifestations associated with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) through a systematic literature review. We performed a systematic review using the Medline OVID, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases through May 2018 for experimental and observational studies that explored the association of AITD with degenerative joint disease (DJD), osteoarthritis (OA), chronic widespread pain (CWP) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), and seronegative inflammatory arthritis (IA). A total of 2132 articles were identified. Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Department of Management and Strategy, Clinical Research Center, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.

Kawasaki disease is an acute systemic vasculitis in children. Antiplatelet medicines are commonly used for Kawasaki disease to attenuate vasculitis and prevent thromboembolism; however, the mechanisms have not been elucidated. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of antiplatelet medications for Kawasaki disease. Read More

Wien Med Wochenschr 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Institut für Schilddrüsendiagnostik und Nuklearmedizin Gleisdorf, Businesspark 2, 8200, Gleisdorf, Austria.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is one of the most common organspecific autoimune diseases and the most frequent cause of hypothyroidism in areas with sufficient iodine supply. Excessively stimulated T cells CD4+ and their differentiated cells are known to play a key role in the pathogenesis. It is currently accepted that on the one hand genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, existential factors (gender difference) play an important role, on the other hand gut and intestinal microbiota seem to contribute to its development too. Read More

World J Gastrointest Endosc 2019 Mar;11(3):231-238

Department of Gastroenterology, Fukushima Medical University, School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1247, Japan.

Background: Biliary ductal cancer (BDC) is a lethal disease; however, diagnosing BDC is challenging. Biliary biopsies are performed to pathologically diagnose BDC, but the appropriate parameters for biliary biopsy [number of biliary biopsies, number of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) sessions, .] are unknown. Read More

Circ J 2019 Mar 26. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Division of Regeneration and Medicine, Medical Center for Translational and Clinical Research, Hiroshima University Hospital.

Background: Circulating triglyceride (TG) levels are a current focus as a residual risk for cardiovascular (CV) events. We evaluated the relationship between circulating TG levels and future CV events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who were treated with conventional therapy. Methods and Results: We analyzed data for 652 patients who were enrolled in the FMD-J Study A. Read More

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 2019 Mar;46(3):564-566

Dept. of Surgery, Kansai Rosai Hospital.

A 70s man was admitted to another hospital with a complaint of abdominal pain, and was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal perforation based on the presence of free air in the abdominal cavity on computed tomography. The patient was transferred to our hospital in shock and underwent emergency surgery. Operative findings showed a perforation of the rectosigmoid colon and rectal cancer at the anal side of the perforation site. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2019 Mar 27;13(1):87. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kindai University Hospital, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, 589-8511, Japan.

Background: Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia is a rare nodular skin tumor characterized by eosinophilic invasion and vascular proliferation. Previous reports suggested that irritation and inflammation are the causative factors of this disease. Most cases of angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia occur around the auricle, forehead, and scalp; the hand is rarely affected. Read More

Heart Vessels 2019 Mar 25. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Department of Pediatrics, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8505, Japan.

Myocardial ischemia changes the electrophysiological properties of the myocardium, but it is difficult to detect the abnormalities of depolarization and repolarization noninvasively in patients with coronary artery disease. Depolarization and repolarization abnormalities were retrospectively investigated in 61 patients (48 males and 13 females) with coronary artery lesions (CALs) caused by Kawasaki disease (KD) from 2007 to 2014 using magnetocardiography (MCG). CAL had been diagnosed by selective coronary angiography. Read More

J Healthc Eng 2019 18;2019:4061313. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.

This study aimed to develop a machine learning-based algorithm for glaucoma diagnosis in patients with open-angle glaucoma, based on three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (OCT) data and color fundus images. In this study, 208 glaucomatous and 149 healthy eyes were enrolled, and color fundus images and volumetric OCT data from the optic disc and macular area of these eyes were captured with a spectral-domain OCT (3D OCT-2000, Topcon). Thickness and deviation maps were created with a segmentation algorithm. Read More

J Epidemiol 2019 Mar 23. Epub 2019 Mar 23.

Department of Preventive Medical Sciences, Fujita Health University School of Health Sciences.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in the development of various diseases, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although previous studies in clinically severe patients have investigated associations between CKD and miRNAs with particular attention on renal fibrosis, relationships in a general population have yet to be established. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between expression level of circulating miRNAs and CKD in a middle-aged Japanese population. Read More

Heart Vessels 2019 Mar 22. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Department of Cardiology, Japanese Red Cross Ashikaga Hospital, Ashikaga, Japan.

Periprocedural bleeding is associated with an increased risk of mortality during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), especially in patients with severe chronic renal insufficiency. Therefore, trans-radial intervention (TRI) should be considered in these patients; however, PCI operators usually avoid this approach because of the risk of radial artery occlusion. We aimed to investigate the associations of TRI and in-hospital complications in these patients. Read More

Cancer Med 2019 Mar 22. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan.

Background: Previous studies have suggested an association between the use of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the resulting decrease in the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, it is unclear whether DAAs prevent the recurrence of HCC after curative treatment for HCC. This study aimed to prospectively investigate HCC recurrence and its predictors after curative treatment for HCC.

Methods: A total of 3012 patients with chronic HCV infection, with or without cirrhosis, who were treated with DAAs were enrolled between January 1, 2015 and January 31, 2017 as per the institutional review board approved study protocol at 15 institutions, including 10 university hospitals and five high-volume centers in the Kyusyu area of Japan. Read More

Digestion 2019 Mar 21:1-9. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.

Background/aims: Transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations (TLESRs) are the major cause of gastroesophageal reflux. Recently, an EP1 receptor antagonist, ONO-8539, showed the reduction of TLESRs in monkeys. However, its effect on TLESRs in humans remains unclear. Read More

Eur J Public Health 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Health and Social Behaviour, The University of Tokyo School of Public Health, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Epidemiological evidence has shown that lower salt intake reduces hypertension-related disease mortality. Japan has experienced a drastic decrease in cardiovascular mortality, although this varies across regions. This regional variation does not necessarily match the local patterns of reported average salt intake. Read More

Thorac Cancer 2019 Apr 19;10(4):992-1000. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Comprehensive Cancer Center, International Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Hidaka-City, Japan.

Background: It remains unclear why radiation clinically provides a synergistic effect when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors such as nivolumab. The purpose of our study was to retrospectively evaluate whether the therapeutic efficacy of nivolumab is improved as a result of a history of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: From February 2016 to December 2017, 124 consecutive patients were administered nivolumab for pretreated advanced NSCLC. Read More

Urol J 2019 Mar 18. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Urology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.

Purpose: The endocrine therapy is effective for patients with advanced prostate cancer, but the disease eventually becomes refractory to treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate prognostic factors and to develop a risk stratification model for survival in patients with advanced prostate cancer undergoing endocrine therapy.

Materials And Methods: This study included 197 patients with stage IV prostate cancer who were treated with endocrine therapy as primary treatment at Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan, between January 1999 and November 2012. Read More

BMC Neurol 2019 Mar 14;19(1):41. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.

Background: In 2010 the spectrum of known antigens in autoimmune encephalitis has been expanded by GABA receptors. Until now over 80 patients with GABA receptor encephalitis have been described. We report the occurrence of GABA receptor antibodies in a patient with clinically diagnosed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Read More