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Comput Intell Neurosci 2019 15;2019:6212759. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Nuclear Medicine Department, Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, Harbin 150030, China.

Thyroid disease has now become the second largest disease in the endocrine field; SPECT imaging is particularly important for the clinical diagnosis of thyroid diseases. However, there is little research on the application of SPECT images in the computer-aided diagnosis of thyroid diseases based on machine learning methods. A convolutional neural network with optimization-based computer-aided diagnosis of thyroid diseases using SPECT images is developed. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

J Ultrason 2018 ;18(75):284-289

Department of Radiology, Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine , Ankara , Turkey.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of real-time strain sonoelastography for comparison of perithyroidal lymph nodes of Hashimoto thyroiditis patients, jugular lymph nodes of healthy individuals and parathyroid lesions. Fifty parathyroid lesions (Group 1), 52 lymph nodes in Hashimoto thyroiditis patients (Group 2) and 51 reactive jugular lymph nodes (Group 3) were examined by ultrasound, and elastography was performed for a total of 95 patients. Real-time strain sonoelastography using elasticity score (E-index) was performed. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2019 30;10:36. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.

Inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of a number of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Soluble epoxide hydrolases (sEH), enzymes present in all living organisms, metabolize epoxy fatty acids (EpFAs) to corresponding 1,2-diols by the addition of a molecule of water. Accumulating evidence suggests that sEH in the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) plays a key role in inflammation. Read More

Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Respiratory Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, International Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, 1397-1 Yamane, Hidaka-City, Saitama, 350-1298, Japan.

Background: Re-challenge of erlotinib after gefitinib failure is reported to yield some benefit in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. However, little is known about the re-challenge of afatinib after 1st generate on EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) failure.

Methods: From May 2015 to August 2018, 62 patients with advanced NSCLC harboring sensitive EGFR mutation received afatinib after gefitinib and/or erlotinib failure at our institution was included in our retrospective study. Read More

J Alzheimers Dis 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common neurodegenerative dementia, leads to memory dysfunction due to widespread neuronal loss associated with aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins (APs), while schizophrenia (SCZ) represents a major psychiatric disorder characterized by delusions, hallucinations, and other cognitive abnormalities, the underlying mechanisms of which remain obscure. Although AD and SCZ partially overlap in terms of psychiatric symptoms and some aspects of cognitive impairment, the causal relationship between AD and SCZ is unclear. Based on the similarity of APs with yeast prion in terms of stress-induced protein aggregation, we recently proposed that evolvability of APs might be an epigenetic phenomenon to transmit stress information of parental brain to cope with the stressors in offspring. Read More

BMC Gastroenterol 2019 Feb 8;19(1):25. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Transplantation and Pediatric Surgery, Postgraduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is considered the standard treatment for end-stage liver disease, but ideal donors remain in limited supply, resulting in an unavoidable increase in the need to use grafts from marginal donors. The attenuation of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in such marginal donors is therefore crucial for reducing the possibility of the primary non-function of grafts and graft loss. Some reports have found that molecular-hydrogen showed antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in preventing IRI in some non-hepatic transplant models. Read More

World J Pediatr 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Medicine, The University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Background: Thyroid hormones are critical for early neurocognitive development as well as growth and development throughout childhood. Prompt recognition and treatment of hypothyroidism is, therefore, of utmost importance to optimize physical and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Data Sources: A PubMed search was completed in Clinical Queries using the key terms "hypothyroidism". Read More

Dis Markers 2019 10;2019:5160565. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Institute of Pathology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.

TIGIT is an inhibitory immune checkpoint receptor and a putative target for novel immune therapies. Here, we analysed two different types of tissue microarrays of healthy lymphatic and various inflamed tissues, colorectal and lung cancers, as well as >1700 tumour samples from 86 different tumour entities for TIGIT and/or PD-1 by bright field and/or multiplex fluorescence immunohistochemistry. TIGIT was detected in CD8 cytotoxic T cells, CD4 T helper cells, FOXP3 regulatory T cells, and NK cells, but not in CD11c dendritic cells, CD68 macrophages, and CD20 B lymphocytes. Read More

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Endocrinology, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrine Diseases, The First Hospital of China Medical University, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, P. R. China, 110001.

Objective: Polyamines are indispensable polycations and play important physiological roles in living cells. Some polyamine metabolites have been associated with autoimmune disorders. The aims of this study were to profile polyamine metabolites in autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) and predict whether polyamine metabolites are associated with thyroid hormone, thyroid autoantibodies or disease progression. Read More

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.

Background: Although multidisciplinary treatment is recommended for patients with advanced stage and recurrent thymoma, a detailed treatment strategy remains controversial. We have performed a multimodality therapy of induction chemotherapy (CAMP therapy: cisplatin, doxorubicin, and methylprednisolone) combined with surgery for those patients. We now conducted a retrospective study for investigating the results of this multimodality therapy for thymoma patients with pleural dissemination. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Chromosome Engineering Research Center, Tottori University, Yonago, 683-8503 Tottori, Japan.

Although "genomically" humanized animals are invaluable tools for generating human disease models as well as for biomedical research, their development has been mainly restricted to mice via established transgenic-based and embryonic stem cell-based technologies. Since rats are widely used for studying human disease and for drug efficacy and toxicity testing, humanized rat models would be preferred over mice for several applications. However, the development of sophisticated humanized rat models has been hampered by the difficulty of complex genetic manipulations in rats. Read More

HPB (Oxford) 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Toranomon Hospital, Japan; Okinaka Memorial Institute for Medical Disease, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address:

Background: Recent advances in liver surgery have dramatically improved the safety of hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to compare outcomes for patients fulfilling an extended criteria vs. those fulfilling the conventional criteria based on the bilirubin and indocyanine green (ICG) clearance (Makuuchi's criteria). Read More

Surg Case Rep 2019 Jan 31;5(1):13. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan.

Background: Carcinosarcoma is a rare tumor that includes both carcinoma and sarcoma components. It develops commonly in the female reproductive tract, most often in the uterus. However, as there are a small number of similar cases in the English literature, we would like to present a rare case of a carcinosarcoma in Vater's papilla. Read More

Regen Ther 2019 Jun 14;10:84-91. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, Gifu 501-1194, Japan.

Introduction: Lymphatic anomalies (LAs) refer to a group of diseases involving systemic dysplasia of lymphatic vessels. These lesions are classified as cystic lymphatic malformation (macrocystic, microcystic or mixed), generalized lymphatic anomaly, and Gorham-Stout disease. LAs occur mainly in childhood, and present with various symptoms including chronic airway problems, recurrent infection, and organ disorders. Read More

J Clin Biochem Nutr 2019 Jan 11;64(1):36-44. Epub 2018 Aug 11.

Research Team for Mechanism of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, 35-2 Sakaecho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan.

Reactive oxygen species attack several living organs and induce cell death. Previously, we found axonal/dendrite degeneration before the induction of cell death in hydrogen peroxide-treated neuroblastoma: N1E-115 cells and primary neurons. This phenomenon may be connected with membrane oxidation, microtubule destabilization and disruption of intracellular calcium homeostasis. Read More

Eur J Cancer 2019 Jan 28;109:84-91. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Department of Breast and Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, National Cancer Center, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan.

Background: We conducted a multicenter phase I/II trial of olaparib plus eribulin in Japanese patients with advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) to determine the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) (phase I) and to examine the efficacy and safety (phase II) (UMIN00009498) of the combined therapy.

Patients And Methods: In phase I, olaparib tablet was orally administered twice daily from level 1:25 mg BID to level 7:300 mg BID, with 1.4 mg/m of eribulin on days 1 and 8. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018 16;9:811. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China.

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) are chronic organ-specific autoimmune diseases and mainly include Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). CD14 is an important component of the immune system as a receptor for gram-negative lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The genetic polymorphisms of CD14 have been confirmed to be associated with a variety of autoimmune diseases. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018 15;9:803. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Key Lab of Immunodermatology, Ministry of Health, Department of Dermatology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.

Associations between vitiligo and thyroid disorders have been suggested, However, the prevalence of thyroid disorders in vitiligo vary widely. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the prevalence of thyroid disorders in patients with vitiligo. The PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), Chongqing VIP database, and Wanfang database from inception to August 2, 2018 were systematically searched. Read More

J Pharm Health Care Sci 2019 22;5. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

1Faculty of Pharmacy, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, 920-1192 Japan.

Background: The self-management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which involves adherence to medical instructions on diet and nutritional advice, physical activity, medication regimen, and weight and stress management, is necessary for the treatment of T2DM.In this study, we investigated the relationship between patients' perceptions of their disease and their adherence to their medications. And we attempted to determine whether distinct subphenotypes of behavioral change of medication adherence can be discerned based on a patients' perceptions. Read More

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 2018 Dec;45(13):1964-1966

Dept of Surgery, Saiseikai Yokohamashi Nanbu Hospital.

A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with multiple liver tumors detected by routine ultrasonography. Colonoscopy showed a type 2 tumor measuring approximately 25mm in diameter at the terminal ileum. The biopsy specimen showed neuroendocrine tumor(NET)G1. Read More

J Immunol 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan.

Downregulation of lamin B1 has been recognized as a crucial step for development of full senescence. Accelerated cellular senescence linked to mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (MTOR) signaling and accumulation of mitochondrial damage has been implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis. We hypothesized that lamin B1 protein levels are reduced in COPD lungs, contributing to the process of cigarette smoke (CS)-induced cellular senescence via dysregulation of MTOR and mitochondrial integrity. Read More

Acta Biomater 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.

Low back pain results in more global disabilities than any other condition, and intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is commonly involved in the etiology. Supplementation of IVDs with reparative cells is a rational strategy to address such clinical problems. We have previously developed a scaffold-free tissue-engineered construct (TEC) as a novel cell therapy system for repair of articular cartilage and meniscus. Read More

Mol Biol Rep 2019 Jan 24. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine, 35-1 Higashi 23, Towada-shi, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan.

Activin E, a member of the TGF-β super family, is a protein dimer of mature inhibin βE subunits. Recently, it is reported that hepatic activin E may act as a hepatokine that alter whole body energy/glucose metabolism in human. However, orthologues of the activin E gene have yet to be identified in lower vertebrates, including fish. Read More

F1000Res 2018 30;7:1154. Epub 2018 Jul 30.

Servicio de Medicina Interna y emergencia, Hospital Regional Lambayeque, Lambayeque, Peru.

Hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HypoKPP) is characterized by transient episodes of flaccid muscle weakness. We describe the case of a teenaged boy with HypoKPP and hyperthyroidism due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis with initial manifestation of renal tubular acidosis. This combination is rare and little described previously in men. Read More

J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Department of Oral Medicine, Radiology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, India.

Oral lichen planus is a chronic T cell mediated inflammatory condition with multifactorial etiology. Being autoimmune mediated condition, it has been associated with other autoimmune disorders. This case report discusses the possible presentation of oral lichen planus in hypothyroid patients as a marker of severity of the thyroid deficient status and the possible pathogenetic link between both the conditions. Read More

Australas J Dermatol 2019 Jan 24. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.

Prurigo is a common skin disease characterised by erythematous macules and papules/nodules with severe pruritus. We report here two cases with treatment-resistant prurigo that were successfully treated with duloxetine hydrochloride, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. In vivo experiments with a mouse model of prurigo-like inflammation showed that duloxetine hydrochloride ameliorated not only scratching behaviours, but also skin inflammation. Read More

Pathol Oncol Res 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Department of Pathology, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, Debrecen, H-4042, Hungary.

Thyroid cancer (TC) coexisting with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) presents with several characteristic features including multifocality and lower clinical stages compared to de novo carcinomas but its exact biology is still not understood. We reexamined clinico-pathological and molecular correlations between Hashimoto's thyroditis and papillary thyroid cancer. A total of 262 patients with TC was evaluated who underwent thyroidectomy at the Surgical Department of the University of Debrecen. Read More

Mod Rheumatol 2019 Jan 21:1-10. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

a Department of Molecular Pathology , Tokyo Medical University , Tokyo , Japan.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare Takayasu arteritis (TAK) with giant cell arteritis (GCA) through immunohistochemistry principally of inflammatory cells; these two disorders may be on the spectrum within a single disease state.

Methods: Nine TAK and 5 GCA surgically resected vessel specimens were selected. TAK specimen was divided into each three acute-, chronic-, and healed-phase samples based on intimal and adventitial thickening. Read More

Exp Ther Med 2019 Jan 26;17(1):888-894. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kindai University Hospital, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan.

The number of elderly patients with sarcoma (65 years or older) has increased with the rise in the aging of society. As it is difficult to treat elderly sarcoma patients in the same manner as younger patients, the present study sought to compare treatment options currently available for elderly patients. The present study was comprised 34 Japanese patients (21 men and 13 women) with malignant bone or soft tissue tumors who underwent surgery in our department from September 2004 to March 2014. Read More

Endokrynol Pol 2019 Jan 16. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Department of Pathophysiology and Endocrinology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of occurrence of antibodies participating in the development of endocrine diseases in patients with autoimmune hematopoietic disease, thus documenting the potential suitability of specific diagnostic and screening tests.

Material And Methods: The study group consisted of 124 persons (men and women) with newly diagnosed Pernicious Anemia (PA) and the control group (C) of 41 healthy people. Antibodies against: internal factor (IFAb), gastric parietal cells (APCA), thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb), thyroglobulin (TgAb), adrenal cortex (AdrenalAb) and pituitary anterior lobe (PituitaryAb) were determined in the blood. Read More

Sci Rep 2019 Jan 14;9(1):102. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization (NHO) Nagasaki Medical Center, Omura, Japan.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic and cholestatic autoimmune liver disease caused by the destruction of intrahepatic small bile ducts. Our previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified six susceptibility loci for PBC. Here, in order to further elucidate the genetic architecture of PBC, a GWAS was performed on an additional independent sample set, then a genome-wide meta-analysis with our previous GWAS was performed based on a whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) imputation analysis of a total of 4,045 Japanese individuals (2,060 cases and 1,985 healthy controls). Read More

Case Rep Rheumatol 2018 6;2018:2856546. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

President, National Hospital Organization Tokyo National Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Biologics play a key role in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), while RA-related serious infection remains an unsettled clinical problem. Detection of tuberculosis (TB) is challenging due to the difficulty in distinguishing symptoms such as fever and elevation of inflammatory markers from other infections or a disease flare of RA. The expression of the CD64 molecule on neutrophils (neutrophil CD64) was upregulated by various infections including TB. Read More

Int J Mol Med 2019 Mar 31;43(3):1487-1496. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima 890‑8544, Japan.

Excessive fructose intake is a risk factor for gut symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, however, its effect on the intestinal tract has not been evaluated previously. The present study investigated the impact of a high‑fructose diet (HFD) on intestinal barrier function in mice with experimental colitis. C57/BL6 mice were provided with either a HFD or control diet and either plain drinking water or water containing 1% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 2 weeks. Read More

Hypertension 2019 Feb;73(2):491-496

From the Department of Neurosurgery and Neurobiology, Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ.

Gut microbiota modulates metabolic and immunoregulatory axes and contributes to the pathophysiology of diseases with inflammatory components, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, and ischemic stroke. Inflammation is emerging as a critical player in the pathophysiology of an intracranial aneurysm. Therefore, we hypothesized that the gut microbiota affects aneurysm formation by modulating inflammation. Read More

Arch Endocrinol Metab 2018 ;62(6):609-614

Department of Endocrinology, CHU, Liège, Belgium.

Objective: The conversion of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) to hyperthyroidism due to thyrotropin receptor antibodies is intriguing and considered rare. The contribution of TSH receptor blocking antibodies (TRAb), which may be stimulators (TSAb) or blockers (TBAb), is suspected. We describe clinical and biological variables in a series of patients switching from Hashimoto's thyroiditis to Grave's disease. Read More

BMC Ophthalmol 2019 Jan 8;19(1). Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49, 60-355, Poznan, Poland.

Background: Thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) constitutes an immune-mediated inflammation of the orbital tissues of unclear etiopathogenesis. TAO is most prevalent in hyperthyroid patients with Graves' disease (GD); however, severe cases of orbitopathy associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) have rarely been described.

Case Presentation: Herewith we report an unusual case of a middle-aged clinically and biochemically euthyroid woman with a stable HT, who developed a severe unilateral left-sided TAO. Read More

J Immunother Cancer 2019 Jan 7;7(1). Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research (CeDER), University of Toledo, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, 3000 Arlington Ave., M.S. 1186, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA.

Background: Thyroid cancer and thyroid autoimmunity are considered opposite extremes of immune-responses. However, several studies have suggested that thyroid cancer coexists with autoimmune thyroid diseases like Hashimoto Thyroiditis (HT) and Graves disease (GD). We have shown that the risk of developing thyroid cancer is higher in patients with a silent form of autoimmune thyroid disease -Euthyroid Hashimoto Thyroiditis-(EHT). Read More

Liver Transpl 2019 Jan 7. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, and Department of General Surgery, Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195.

Background: A recent study using US national registry data has reported that split liver transplant (SLT) has improved over-time and no more hazardous than whole liver transplant using Cox proportional hazard (PH) models. However, the study methods violated PH assumption, the fundamental assumption of Cox modeling. As a result, the reported HR are biased and unreliable. Read More

Jpn J Clin Oncol 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

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

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify risk factors to predict a biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients treated with salvage radiation therapy (SRT) after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 122 Japanese patients who received SRT for BCR after RP. Using uni- and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, we identified the predictive factors of BCR after SRT. Read More

Am Surg 2018 Dec;84(12):e514-e516

Diabetol Int 2018 Jul 16;9(3):158-167. Epub 2017 Dec 16.

11Tokyo Women's Medical University/The Institute for Adult Diseases, Asahi Life Foundation, Asahiseimeisunaga Building, 2-2-6, Nihonbashi Bakuro-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 103-0002 Japan.

Objective: As a subanalysis of the Januvia Multicenter Prospective Trial in Type 2 Diabetes (JAMP study), we examined factors that decreased blood glucose control effect of sitagliptin after 3 months and patients requiring an addition or increase of diabetes treatment.

Methods: We selected patients in whom glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels decreased by month 3 after initiation of sitagliptin treatment and conducted two analyses: (1) in patients who did not change drugs until month 12, we compared changes in HbA1c levels between concomitant drugs and examined factors that decreased blood glucose control effect of sitagliptin; (2) compared changes in HbA1c levels and backgrounds between patients who did and did not require an addition to or increased dose of the antidiabetic agent.

Results: Four hundred and ninety-eight patients were chosen. Read More

Ann Hepatol 2018 Dec;18(1):109-115

Department of Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.

Introduction And Aim: We assessed the characteristics of virological response to a combination treatment of ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir in hepatitis C virus genotype 1-infected elderly Japanese patients.

Material And Methods: This multicenter prospective study was conducted at six locations in Japan. Seventy patients with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1b infection were orally administered ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir once daily for 12 weeks. Read More

Parkinsons Dis 2018 22;2018:5789424. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Lewy body diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA), are associated with a wide range of nonmotor symptoms (NMS), including cognitive impairment, depression and anxiety, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal symptoms, and autonomic failure. The reason why such diverse and disabling NMS have not been weeded out but have persisted across evolution is unknown. As such, one possibility would be that the NMS might be somehow beneficial during development and/or reproductive stages, a possibility consistent with our recent view as to the evolvability of amyloidogenic proteins (APs) such as -synuclein (S) and amyloid- (A) in the brain. Read More

BMJ Open 2018 Dec 28;8(12):e023435. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Department of Hygiene, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan.

Objective: The impact of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake on renal failure (RF) risk remains unclear. We examined the 1-year impact of this disaster on RF mortality.

Setting: This ecological study focused on the year before and after the earthquake. Read More

J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Dec 27. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University Yachiyo Medical Center, Chiba, Japan.

Background And Aim: To elucidate features of nonobese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), we assessed Japanese patients with NAFLD stratified by body mass index (BMI) and by sex.

Methods: Biopsy-proven 762 NAFLD patients (404 men) were classified into three groups by the Japanese criteria: nonobese group (BMI < 25 kg/m ), obese group (25 to 30), and severely obese group (≥ 30). Clinicopathological features and single nucleotide polymorphism of patatin-like phospholipase 3 (PNPLA3) rs738409 were investigated, and body composition analysis was performed by bioelectrical impedance analysis and computed tomography. Read More

Diagn Cytopathol 2018 Dec 26. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University and Cytology Unit, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Kuwait.

Objectives: Hürthle cell (HC) metaplasia is an important feature of chronic lymphocytic (Hashimoto) thyroiditis (HT). However, it is rarely observed in juvenile form HT. In a study based on fine needle aspiration cytology, the cytomorphological difference between pediatric HT and its adult form was studied, with special attention on HC metaplasia and its pathogenesis. Read More

In Vivo 2019 Jan-Feb;33(1):281-287

Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.

Background/aim: Little evidence is currently available on significant determinants of post-recurrence survival for patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate factors influencing post-recurrence survival in HR+/HER2-breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: A cohort of 236 patients with recurrent HR+/HER2- breast cancer was retrospectively analyzed to identify significant factors correlating with prognosis after recurrence. Read More

J Dermatol 2019 Feb 26;46(2):124-130. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Department of Dermatology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

This was a multicenter study of rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal immunoglobulin G antibody directed against CD20, for the treatment of refractory autoimmune bullous diseases (pemphigus and pemphigoid). Ten patients (three with pemphigus vulgaris, six with pemphigus foliaceus and one with bullous pemphigoid) were treated with a single cycle of rituximab (four weekly infusions at a dose of 375 mg/m of body surface area). The primary end-points were the number of serious adverse events and rate of complete remission at 40 weeks. Read More

Respir Med Case Rep 2019 8;26:101-104. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital, 430-0906 2-12-12, Sumiyoshi Naka-ku, Hamamatsu-city, Shizuoka, Japan.

A 61-year-old woman with a history of palpebral conjunctival mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, treated with rituximab, was referred to the authors' hospital after follow-up positron emission tomography/computed tomography revealed F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose uptake in a tumor located in the left main bronchus. The diagnosis of MALT lymphoma was made by pathological and immunohistochemical findings homologous to previous palpebral conjunctival lesion via bronchoscopic biopsy. The disease was controlled with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, oncovin, and prednisolone (i. Read More