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Neuroscience 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life and Health Sciences, Chubu University, Kasugai 487-8501, Japan; Department of Biochemistry II, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 466-0065, Japan. Electronic address:

B4GALNT1 is an enzyme essential for the synthesis of complex gangliosides, whose absence leads to progressive neurodegeneration with aging in mice. Recently, eleven cases of hereditary spastic paraplegia with mutation in the coding region of B4GALNT1 were reported. However, changes in the enzymatic activity of their products have never been studied. Read More

J Bone Miner Res 2018 Dec 26;33(12):2242. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.

Neuropsychopharmacol Rep 2018 Dec 11;38(4):167-174. Epub 2018 Aug 11.

Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.

Aim: To explore the characteristics of psychiatric morbidity in chronic pain patients who present with or without fibromyalgia.

Methods: Patients are referred to our chronic pain clinic from primary medical institutions, as we are a secondary medical institution. Although some patients have chronic pain, they have no clear organic disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis to account for the pain. Read More

Med Phys 2018 Dec 1. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, 3-18-22 Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8677, Japan.

Purpose: We determined correction factors for absorbed dose energy dependence and intrinsic energy dependence for measurements of absorbed dose to water around an Ir source using a radiophotoluminescent glass dosimeter (RPLD) calibrated with a 4-MV photon beam.

Methods: The ratio of the absorbed dose to the water and the average absorbed dose to RPLD for the Ir beam relative to the same ratio in a 4 MV photon beam defines the absorbed dose energy dependence and was determined at distances of 2-10 cm (at intervals of 1 cm) from the Ir source in a water phantom using the egs_chamber user code. The RPLD was calibrated to measure absorbed dose to water, D , in a 4 MV photon beam using an ionization chamber, which was also used to measure absorbed dose to water, D , in a water phantom using the Ir source. Read More

Endocr J 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Molecular and Cellular Metabolism, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan.

Diazoxide is recognized as an effective medical treatment for insulinoma. However, due to its adverse effects, such as fluid retention, it is sometimes difficult to employ diazoxide at an effective dose in clinical practice. This study aimed to clarify the clinical factors, which may affect efficacy and safety of the diazoxide treatment. Read More

Brain Dev 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Division of Rehabilitation Medicine and Developmental Evaluation Center, National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan.

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between motor and cognitive/language development in children with Down syndrome (DS). We also tested the hypothesis that acquisition of walking skills facilitates later cognitive/language development.

Methods: Participants were 156 children with DS who were less than 48 months old and had undergone a health checkup by medical doctors and received rehabilitation treatment between April 2013 and March 2017 in Yokohama, Japan. Read More

Exp Mol Pathol 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Departments of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, South-1 West-17, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan; CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo 102-0076, Japan. Electronic address:

Uterine endometrial carcinoma is one of the common cancers in females. Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs)/cancer-initiating cells (CICs) are a small subpopulation of cancer cells that are tumorigenic and are resistant to treatments, thus they are focused as treatment targets. However, the heterogeneity of CSCs/CICs is still elusive, and we therefore analyzed CSCs/CICs at the clonal level. Read More

Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. Electronic address:

A recent study demonstrated a key role of astroglial potassium channel Kir4.1 in the lateral habenula in depression. We investigated whether Kir4. Read More

Clin Nutr 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Alliance for Research on the Mediterranean and North Africa (ARENA), University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan; Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan. Electronic address:

Olive leaf extracts are rich in several polyphenols having potential health benefits. We conducted the current parallel-group randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of long-term consumption of olive leaf tea (OLT) and green tea (GT) on hematological parameters in 31 female volunteers aged between 40 and 70 years of old. We found that RBC count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were increased significantly in the OLT group than those of in the GT group at 6 and 12 weeks of intervention. Read More

J Gastroenterol 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.

Background: After initial pancreatic resection, local recurrence of pancreatic cancer (PC) or new primary PC can develop in the remnant. There are limited data available regarding this so-called remnant PC. The aim of this retrospective study was to clarify the clinical features and establish a treatment strategy for remnant PC. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Nov 30;19(12). Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Pathology of Mental Diseases, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo 187-8553, Japan.

General cognitive (intelligence) function is substantially heritable, and is a major determinant of economic and health-related life outcomes. Cognitive impairments and intelligence decline are core features of schizophrenia which are evident before the onset of the illness. Genetic overlaps between cognitive impairments and the vulnerability for the illness have been suggested. Read More

Endocrinol Metab (Seoul) 2018 Dec;33(4):473-484

Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Background: Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) development. Other studies, however, have reported a protective role of HT against PTC progression. Through this updated meta-analysis, we aimed to clarify the effects of HT on the progression of PTC. Read More

Expert Rev Neurother 2018 Dec 4:1-10. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

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

Introduction: Depression is one of the most disabling diseases worldwide. Approximately one-third of depressed patients are treatment-resistant to the currently available antidepressants and there is a significant therapeutic time lag of weeks to months. There is a clear unmet need for rapid-acting and more efficacious treatments. Read More

Turk J Pediatr 2018 ;60(3):310-314

Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Konya, Turkey.

Emeksiz S, Kutlu NO, Alaçakır N, Çaksen H. A case of steroid-resistance Hashimoto's encephalopathy presenting with sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Turk J Pediatr 2018; 60: 310-314. Read More

Front Oncol 2018 19;8:530. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Dermatology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.

Antibodies against programmed cell death protein 1, such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab, are widely used for treating various cancers, including advanced melanoma. Nivolumab significantly prolongs survival in patients with metastatic melanoma, and sequential administration with lipilimumab may improve outcomes when switched at the appropriate time. Biomarkers are therefore needed to evaluate nivolumab efficacy soon after first administration. Read More

Respir Med 2018 Dec 22;145:66-72. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Center for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address:

Background And Objective: No reports exist regarding skeletal muscle involvement in patients with Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease (MAC-LD). The cross-sectional area of the erector spinae muscles (ESM) reflects physical activity and can be assessed by computed tomography (CT). We investigated the relationship between ESM and physiological parameters and prognosis in MAC-LD patients. Read More

Cell Commun Signal 2018 Dec 4;16(1):94. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, North 15, West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8638, Japan.

Background: TP53 mutations in cancer cells often evoke cell invasiveness, whereas fibroblasts show invasiveness in the presence of intact TP53. AMAP1 (also called DDEF1 or ASAP1) is a downstream effector of ARF6 and is essential for the ARF6-driven cell-invasive phenotype. We found that AMAP1 levels are under the control of p53 (TP53 gene product) in epithelial cells but not in fibroblasts, and here addressed that molecular basis of the epithelial-specific function of p53 in suppressing invasiveness via targeting AMAP1. Read More

Psychiatry Res 2018 Nov 24;271:247-252. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

Medical Institute of Developmental Disabilities Research, Showa University, 6-11-11 Kita-karasuyama, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawaracho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan.

The need for closure (NFC), a desire for a firm answer and less ambiguity, has a key role in cognitive flexibility in typical development (TD) populations. This study investigated this motivational construct and its relation to cognitive inflexibility in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Compared with individuals with TD, those with ASD reported higher levels in preference for predictability and closed-mindedness and lower levels in decisiveness. Read More

Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr 2018 Oct;7(5):386-388

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

J Electrocardiol 2018 Nov - Dec;51(6):1145-1152. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address:

Background: A novel signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) device and a novel ambulatory SAECG device are clinically available, but reference values have not been established. This study aimed to validate the novel SAECG and the novel ambulatory-based SAECG devices by comparison with the conventional SAECG device.

Methods And Results: High-resolution SAECGs were recorded consecutively in 83 healthy volunteers using the 3 devices. Read More

JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.

Importance: Ultrasonographic (US) screening for thyroid cancer was performed in the Fukushima Health Management Survey after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station accident. Clinical characteristics of thyroid cancers screened by US among children and young adults during the first 5 years after the accident were analyzed.

Objectives: To evaluate the number of detected thyroid cancers by age group within 5 years of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station accident and to compare the basic clinical characteristics and demographic patterns in first- and second-round examinations. Read More

Zootaxa 2018 Nov 14;4521(3):335-356. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Makino Herbarium, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-osawa, Hachioji-shi, 192-0397, Japan..

The genus Myrmarachne MacLeay, 1839 (Araneae: Salticidae) is one of the most diversified salticid groups in Southeast Asia, with 23 species previously recorded from Borneo. Based on the collections accumulated from 2004 to 2014 in the Lambir Hills National Park, we herein describe six new species: M. amabilis sp. Read More

Elife 2018 Nov 28;7. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Department of Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.

Voltage-sensing phosphatases (VSP) contain a voltage sensor domain (VSD) similar to that of voltage-gated ion channels but lack a pore-gate domain. A VSD in a VSP regulates the cytoplasmic catalytic region (CCR). However, the mechanisms by which the VSD couples to the CCR remain elusive. Read More

Oral Radiol 2018 May 3. Epub 2018 May 3.

Department of Radiology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8, Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8461, Japan.

Schwannoma is a benign nerve sheath tumor composed of Schwann cells. Schwannomas originating from ganglia are rare, and schwannomas of the submandibular ganglion or glandular branches have not been reported to date. We present a case of a Japanese woman in her sixties with a submandibular schwannoma originating from the submandibular ganglion, mimicking a submandibular gland tumor on radiological findings. Read More

Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2018 Nov 27. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Department of Public Health, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in women working in the field of aged care in Japan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for female employees aged 18-60 years in aged care facilities in Japan. The analyzed set consisted of 712 participants with complete data. Read More

Case Rep Oncol 2018 Sep-Dec;11(3):671-675. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Department of Dermatology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.

Keratoacanthoma centrifugum marignatum (KCM) is a rare variant of keratoacanthoma, which is characterized by the dense infiltration of inflammatory cells throughout the dermis, especially around the keratinocytic islands. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between KCM and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. In this report, we describe a case of KCM with spontaneous regression that showed dense infiltration of CD3+CD8+ T cells. Read More

J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2018 Nov 24. Epub 2018 Nov 24.

Center for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, National Hospital Organization Hizen Psychiatric Center, Saga, Japan.

Background: Although several studies have reported an association between parity and increased risk of stroke, this relationship remains controversial.

Aims: The present study aimed to determine whether parity is associated with silent brain infarction (SBI), independent of other confounders.

Methods: We analyzed the brain magnetic resonance imaging findings in 576 of community-dwelling older adults with a mean age of 72. Read More

Med Oncol 2018 Nov 26;36(1). Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Department of Urology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-chou, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan.

We aimed to investigate the impact of postoperative weight loss following radical cystectomy (RC) on patients' prognoses. RC and urinary diversion were performed in 512 consecutive patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer at our hospitals between May 1996 and July 2018. Demographic clinical information, pre- and postoperative serum albumin, hemoglobin, and weight were evaluated retrospectively at 1 month. Read More

J Plant Res 2018 Nov 27. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Department of Biological Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Takayama 8916-5, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0101, Japan.

The jasmonate-responsive transcription factor ERF189 in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and its ortholog JRE4 in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) regulate a series of biosynthetic genes involved in the nicotine and steroidal glycoalkaloid pathways. In tobacco, QUINOLINATE PHOSPHORIBOSYL TRANSFERASE 2 (NtQPT2) is regulated by ERF189; however, we found that the tomato QPT gene is not regulated by JRE4. Here, we explored whether and how NtQPT2 is regulated in a heterogenous tomato host. Read More

Lung Cancer 2018 Nov 14. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.

BMC Endocr Disord 2018 Nov 26;18(1):87. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Department of Emergency, First Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China.

Background: Cognitive impairment is commonly observed in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). Low levels of vitamin D have been correlated with cognitive impairment in non-HT population. We examined the association of vitamin D levels with cognitive impairment in patients with HT. Read More

Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2018 Nov 26:1-10. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

a Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health , Tokyo , Japan.

In this study, the presence of cereulide in cow's milk was identified and quantified using our validated method with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Cereulide was concentrated using protein acid-precipitation and extracted from the precipitate by using acetonitrile twice. The combination of protein acid-precipitation and extraction sufficiently eliminated the matrix compounds from the milk and a further clean-up step utilising solid-phase extraction could be omitted. Read More

Med Oncol 2018 Nov 24;36(1). Epub 2018 Nov 24.

Department of Urology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-chou, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan.

We aimed to compare oncological outcomes and safety of axitinib and sunitinib in patients with treatment-naïve metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We retrospectively evaluated 169 patients with mRCC who were treated with axitinib or sunitinib as the first-line therapy in five hospitals between October 2008 and August 2018. Oncological outcomes and safety were compared between axitinib (n = 68) and sunitinib (n = 101) groups. Read More

Auris Nasus Larynx 2018 Nov 22. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Otolaryngology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan. Electronic address:

Auris Nasus Larynx 2018 Nov 22. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, National Sencai Medical Center, Japan.

The present article discusses the first reported case of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) metastasis from a submandibular gland to the larynx. Both treatments of distant metastasis of ACC and secondary laryngeal tumor are challenging. Despite its slow progression, ACC is associated with high rates of local recurrence, distant metastasis, and poor prognosis. Read More

Schizophr Res 2018 Nov 4;201:172-179. Epub 2018 Jul 4.

Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Department of Pathology of Mental Diseases, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Patients with schizophrenia show various trajectories in intelligence. However, whether the degree of IQ decline is associated with functional outcomes remains unclear. The purposes of the study were 1) to determine whether IQ decline was related with work outcome, and 2) to perform predictions for attaining a certain amount of work measured by work hours. Read More

J Clin Lipidol 2018 Oct 29. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Sagamihara, Japan; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan.

Background: Tendon xanthomas are accumulations of collagen and macrophages, which contain cholesterol esters and a marker of high risk for coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objective: The aim of the article was to clarify whether the presence of Achilles tendon thickening (ATT) was associated with disease severity and plaque vulnerability in patients with CAD.

Methods: A total of 241 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and ATT assessment were analyzed. Read More

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2018 Nov 23. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan.

Purpose: Cancer cells can invade the surrounding stroma with the aid of fibroblasts (fibroblasts-dependent invasion). The aim of this study was to explore the spatiotemporal characteristics of fibroblast-dependent invasion of cancer cells.

Methods: We performed an in vitro three-dimensional collagen invasion assay using Fluorescent Ubiquitination-based Cell Cycle indicator (Fucci)-labeled A431 carcinoma cells co-cultured with fibroblasts. Read More

Int Orthop 2018 Nov 23. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8574, Japan.

Purpose: Adjacent segment degeneration (ASDeg) and disease (ASDis) have become major concerns after fusion surgery. However, there is no definitive data or knowledge about the incidence or risk factors. The review discusses the incidence and risk factors and prevention of ASDeg and ASDis in the relevant literature. Read More

Biol Psychiatry 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Imaging Genetics and Neuroinformatics Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia; Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Am J Surg 2018 Nov 14. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Surgery, Stanford University, United States.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine whether decision-based procedural mapping demonstrates differences in attendings versus residents.

Methods: Attendings and residents were interviewed about operative decision-making in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) using a cognitive task analysis framework. Interviews were converted into procedural maps. Read More

Parasitol Int 2018 Nov 20;69:54-58. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Health Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2217-14, Hayashi-cho, Takamatsu, Kagawa 761-0301, Japan. Electronic address:

It is very important to reduce the costs involved in malarial drug development by small-scale culture of Plasmodium falciparum, and automation of the assay system for drug efficacy against the parasites for high-throughput screening. In this study, we report that P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes can be stably cultured on μ-Slide Angiogenesis, which is used to investigate angiogenesis in tube formation assays, followed by automatic counting of the infection rate (parasitaemia). Read More

Arch Oral Biol 2018 Nov 12;98:68-74. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Department of Periodontology, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, 1-9-20 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8159, Japan.

Objective: Rodent models such as mice and rats are often used in investigations of the oral cavity in the fields of periodontology and dental anesthesiology. When various treatments are performed in the oral cavity, it is very important to secure the visual field while keeping the animal's mouth fully opened, in order to ensure the consistency of experimental procedures. Therefore, we developed a standardized gag conforming to various degrees of oral cavity size of different aged rats. Read More

Clin J Gastroenterol 2018 Nov 21. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization, Nagasaki Medical Center, 2-1001-1 Kubara, Omura, Nagasaki, 856-8562, Japan.

Patients with acute hepatitis B (AHB) usually present after developing symptoms; therefore, the temporal kinetics of viral markers during the incubation period have not been documented clearly. We describe an AHB infection before the onset of hepatitis, throughout the course of the disease and without anti-viral therapy. The patient initially visited our hospital for immunization against HBV and was found to be positive for viral markers: 0. Read More

Breast Cancer Res Treat 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.

Purpose: The evidence on beneficial or adverse effects of sleep duration on risk of breast cancer remains controversial and limited, especially in Asia.

Methods: A prospective study of 34,350 women aged 40-79 years in whom sleep duration, and menstrual and reproductive histories were determined by a self-administered questionnaire. The follow-up period was from 1988 to 2009, and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of breast cancer incidence were calculated for shorter sleep duration in reference to sleep duration of ≥ 8 h/day by Cox proportional hazard models. Read More

Acta Derm Venereol 2018 Nov 21. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Miami Itch Center, University of Miami, 1600 NW 10th Ave RMSB2063, Miami, FL 33136, USA.

The Janus kinase 1/3 inhibitor tofacitinib has demonstrated an antipruritic effect in two phase ΙΙΙ studies in psoriasis. However, the mechanisms behind this antipruritic effect are still unknown. We presently investigated whether tofacitinib affects spontaneous itch as well as expression of itch-related cytokines and epidermal nerve fiber density (ENFD) in the imiquimod-induced mouse model of psoriasis. Read More

J Pharm Health Care Sci 2018 12;4:27. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

1Department of Hospital Pharmacy, University Hospital, Kanazawa University, 13-1, Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641 Japan.

Background: Combination therapy of linezolid (LZD) and rifampicin (RFP) may be more effective than monotherapy for treating gram-positive bacterial infections, but several studies have suggested that RFP decreases LZD exposures, thereby increasing the risk of therapeutic failure and emergence of LZD-resistant strains. However, the mechanism of the drug-drug interaction between LZD and RFP is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, open-label, uncontrolled clinical study in Japanese patients receiving LZD and RFP to evaluate the effect of coadministered RFP on the concentration of LZD. Read More

HNO 2018 Dec;66(12):937-950

Klinik für Hals‑, Nasen‑, Ohrenheilkunde und plastische Operationen, Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, Lohmühlenstraße 5, 20099, Hamburg, Deutschland.

Diseases of the thyroid gland are frequent incidental findings during ultrasound examination of the neck. They affect nearly one third of the normal population. Treatment is not always indicated; however, laboratory diagnostic measures must be initiated to specify the disease. Read More

J Transl Med 2018 Nov 19;16(1):314. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Neuropsychiatry, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1 Mukogawa, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, 663-8501, Japan.

Background: The cytokine, interleukin-18 (IL-18), was originally identified as an interferon-γ-inducing proinflammatory factor; however, there is increasing evidence suggesting that it has non-immunological effects on physiological functions. We have previously investigated the potential pathophysiological relationship between IL-18 and dyslipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which were mediated by lipid energy imbalance. Therefore, herein we focused on brown adipocytes (BAs) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) related to energy consumption as non-shivering thermogenesis. Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Nov 19;8(1):16997. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Gastroenterology, Fukushima Medical University, School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.

In this study, we determined the efficacy of the cell death biomarker cytokeratin 18 for diagnosing biliary tract cancer (BTC). We recruited 36 patients with BTC (Malignant group) and 45 patients with benign biliary tract disease (Benign group) for this study. We used M30 and M65 as cell death biomarkers. Read More