Application of deep neural survival networks to the development of risk prediction models for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

Objectives: : Although numerous risk prediction models have been proposed, few such models have been developed using neural network-based survival analysis. We developed risk prediction models for three cardiovascular disease risk factors (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) among a working-age population in Japan using DeepSurv, a deep feed-forward neural network.

Methods: : Data were obtained from the Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study.

The renaissance and enlightenment of Marchantia as a model system.

The liverwort Marchantia polymorpha has been utilized as a model for biological studies since the 18th century. In the past few decades, there has been a Renaissance in its utilization in genomic and genetic approaches to investigating physiological, developmental, and evolutionary aspects of land plant biology. The reasons for its adoption are similar to those of other genetic models, e.

Novel method to analyze cell kinetics for the rapid diagnosis and determination of the causative agent in allergy.

Drug-induced allergy (DIA), an unexpectedly triggered side effect of drugs used for therapeutic purposes, is a serious clinical issue that needs to be resolved because it interrupts the treatment of the primary disease. Since conventional allergy testing is insufficient to accurately predict the occurrence of DIA or to determine the drugs causing it, the development of diagnostic and predictive tools for allergic reactions is important. We demonstrated a novel method, termed high-sensitive allergy test (HiSAT), for the rapid diagnosis of allergy (within 1 hr; with true-positive diagnosis rates of 89% and 9% for patients with and without allergy-like symptoms, respectively).

An Early Arising Role of the MicroRNA156/529-SPL Module in Reproductive Development Revealed by the Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha.

In angiosperms, the phase transition from vegetative to reproductive growth involves the de-repression of the squamosa promoter-binding-protein-like (SPL) class of transcription factors, which is negatively regulated by the specific microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) miR156/529 [1]. Non-vascular land plants also undergo growth-phase transition to the reproductive state, but knowledge regarding the controlling mechanisms is limited. Here, we investigate the reproductive transition in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, focusing on the roles of miR529c [2-4] and MpSPL2.

[Influence of Memantine on Continuous Treatment with Rivastigmine Patches-Retrospective Study Using the Logistic Regression Analysis].

Rivastigmine patches exhibit stable effects when attached once a day, and may reduce Alzheimer's disease (AD) patient's or caregiver's burden. On the other hand, it was reported that adverse events, such as dermal disorder, frequently appeared after the start of rivastigmine administration. We retrospectively investigated medical records in 120 patients with moderate or mild AD in whom rivastigmine administration was started in the Department of Neurology, Fukuoka University Hospital between July 2011 and June 2014 (43 males, 77 females, mean age: 76.

[Continued Use of Rotigotine Transdermal Patches for Parkinson Disease].

Transdermal patches containing rotigotine, a dopamine agonist (DA) for treatment of Parkinson disease, continuously exert stable effects when applied once daily. Therefore, they are expected to reduce the patient burdens due to complications such as wearing-off and dysphagia. However, dosing is occasionally reduced or discontinued after application because of several reasons such as skin reactions or unsatisfactory efficacy.

Change of teicoplanin loading dose requirement for incremental increases of systemic inflammatory response syndrome score in the setting of sepsis.

Background Target trough concentrations are recommended for teicoplanin (TEIC) to minimize its adverse effects and to maximize efficacy in sepsis caused by grampositive cocci, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. However, optimal doses to attain proper trough values in patients with sepsis have not yet been well established for TEIC. Objective This study investigated whether the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) score could predict the pharmacokinetics of TEIC in patients with sepsis.

Elevated permeability of the blood-brain barrier in mice intratracheally administered porcine pancreatic elastase.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) shows progressive, irreversible airflow limitation induced by emphysema and lung inflammation. The aim of the present study was to determine if COPD conditions induce blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction. We found that the intratracheal administration of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE; 3 U) induced alveolar enlargement, increased neutrophil number in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and decreased blood oxygen saturation in mice at 21 days after inhalation.

Delayed treatment with ADAMTS13 ameliorates cerebral ischemic injury without hemorrhagic complication.

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the only approved therapy for acute ischemic stroke. However, delayed tPA treatment increases the risk of cerebral hemorrhage and can result in exacerbation of nerve injury. ADAMTS13, a von Willebrand factor (VWF) cleaving protease, has a protective effect against ischemic brain injury and may reduce bleeding risk by cleaving VWF.

[The timing of the appearance of oral mucositis induced by concurrent chemoradiotherapy with S-1 for head and neck cancer].

Oral mucositis is a frequent adverse event in patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Although the management of oral mucositis is essential to improve treatment completion rates, no detailed studies on the time of oral mucositis appearance have been reported. We conducted a retrospective study on the timing of the appearance of oral mucositis induced by concurrent chemoradiotherapy with S-1 for head and neck cancer.

Tumor necrosis factor-α reduces beta-amyloid accumulation primarily by lowering cellular prion protein levels in a brain endothelial cell line.

Disruption of beta-amyloid (Aβ) transport across the blood-brain barrier is thought to cause Aβ accumulation in the brain, thus leading to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). As AD patients show increased serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) levels, we examined the effect of TNFα on the function and expression of Aβ transport-related proteins including cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) in the mouse brain microvascular endothelial cell line MBEC4. TNFα decreased PrP(C) levels and intracellular radiolabeled Aβ.

[Necessity of personalized initial loading dose calculation of teicoplanin by clinical pharmacist-examination of the utility of using systemic inflammatory response syndrome score-].

When teicoplanin (TEIC) is injected at the maintenance dose, a long period is required for achievement of the target plasma trough concentration because of its long elimination half-life. An initial loading dose is necessary for rapid achievement of an effective plasma trough concentration. Thus, we proposed that it is necessary for a pharmacist determine the initial loading dose of TEIC to reach an effective plasma trough concentration rapidly after its administration to a patient.

Tumor necrosis factor-α-stimulated brain pericytes possess a unique cytokine and chemokine release profile and enhance microglial activation.

Brain pericytes are involved in neurovascular dysfunction, neurodegeneration and/or neuroinflammation. In the present study, we focused on the proinflammatory properties of brain pericytes to understand their participation in the induction of inflammation at the neurovascular unit (NVU). The NVU comprises different cell types, namely, brain microvascular endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes and microglia.

Involvement of CXCL14 in osteolytic bone metastasis from lung cancer.

To investigate the molecular mechanisms of lung cancer-induced bone metastasis, we established a bone-seeking subclone (HARA-B4) from a human squamous lung cancer cell line (HARA) using an in vivo selection method. We compared comprehensive gene expression profiles between HARA and HARA-B4, and identified the critical factors for the formation of bone metastasis using in vitro and in vivo assays. The number of bone metastatic colonies in the hind legs was significantly higher in HARA-B4-inoculated mice than in HARA-inoculated mice at 4 weeks after inoculation.

[Evaluation of the resident pharmacist program of Fukuoka University Hospital].

Fukuoka University Hospital began to employ a resident pharmacist system in 2006. In the present study, to evaluate our resident program, we conducted a questionnaire survey of graduates who completed program as well as staff of the Pharmaceutical Department of this hospital. In addition, based on the results of this survey, we examined the current state and future of postgraduate training programs that can be offered to those who have completed a 6-year pharmacy course.

Paracellular barrier and tight junction protein expression in the immortalized brain endothelial cell lines bEND.3, bEND.5 and mouse brain endothelial cell 4.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is formed by brain endothelial cells. Many immortalized brain endothelial cell lines have been established; these have been used as in vitro BBB models. The aim of the present study was to assess the paracellular barrier properties of the immortalized mouse brain endothelial cell lines bEND.

Atorvastatin stimulates neuroblastoma cells to induce neurite outgrowth by increasing cellular prion protein expression.

Recently, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors were reported to induce neurite outgrowth in vitro. However, the mechanism underlying this effect remains unclear. Cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) is a ubiquitous glycoprotein present on the surfaces of various cells, including neurons, and is suggested to be involved in neurite outgrowth.

[Establishment of an educational program concerning adverse drug reaction reporting-system in long-term practical training at a hospital].

The model core curriculum for pharmaceutical education specifies the specific behavioral objectives (SBOs) concerning adverse drug reactions, which aims to train pharmacy students to manage adverse drug reactions. Fukuoka University Hospital has developed a problem-based learning (PBL) program concerning adverse drug reactions as long-term practical training to collect adverse event information, identify adverse effects, and acquire management skills. Students' level of satisfaction with the program was high (approximately 90%), and the mean self-evaluation score for the SBOs concerning adverse reaction was 4.

Evaluation of a practical training program for drug information services for fifth-year pharmacy students in a hospital.

Drug information (DI) services is an essential resource for pharmacists to provide counseling to patients and guide appropriate medication use. We devised a DI practical training course that incorporated an inquiry-based practical training program and evaluated its effectiveness. A total of 91 fifth-year students in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Fukuoka University took part in the following DI sessions based on specific behavioral objectives (SBOs) for DI in the Model Core Curriculum for Practical Training: inquiry practice, simulated pharmacy and therapeutics committee, DI newsletter, use of emergency and safety information, off-label use in clinical trials, PRE-AVOID (Be prepared to avoid the adverse drug reactions), adverse drug reactions, and small group discussions about drug poisoning.

A role for hypothalamic AMP-activated protein kinase in the mediation of hyperphagia and weight gain induced by chronic treatment with olanzapine in female rats.

Olanzapine is known to be advantageous with respect to outcome and drug compliance in patients with schizophrenia. However, olanzapine has adverse effects, including a higher incidence of weight gain and metabolic disturbances, when compared with those of other antipsychotic agents. The mechanisms underlying these adverse events remain obscure.

Involvement of the cellular prion protein in the migration of brain microvascular endothelial cells.

The conversion of cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) to its protease-resistant isoform is involved in the pathogenesis of prion disease. Although PrP(C) is a ubiquitous glycoprotein that is present in various cell types, the physiological role of PrP(C) remains obscure. The present study aimed to determine whether PrP(C) mediates migration of brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Measurement and assessment of cytomegalovirus of immunoglobulin (Ig) g titer in preparations.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains the most important pathogen following solid organ transplantation and is the major cause of recipient morbidity and mortality during the first 6 months posttransplantation. To prevent CMV infection and/or to prevent symptomatic CMV disease, immunoglobulin (Ig) G including hyperimmune CMV IgG are used alone or in combination with antiviral medications. The CMV IgG titer, however, has a wide range and frequently depends on the company supplying the Ig preparation even if the preparations come from the plasma pool of a national blood donation agency.

[Establishment of a system for early exposure provided by new pharmacists in a hospital].

It is very important for students to undergo early exposure in 6-year pharmaceutical education; through this experience they will understand roles of pharmacists, map out their future career, and increase their motivation for learning. Therefore we had newly recruited pharmacists provide an early exposure program in a hospital. According to the results of a questionnaire survey involving students, educational staff of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the new pharmacists, 99% of the students were satisfied with the program, and their motivation for learning was enhanced.

[Pharmaceutical services for patients receiving AC chemotherapy].

General treatments for breast cancer patients, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and lymphatic edema drainage, are performed at the Department of Breast Surgery in Kyushu Central Hospital. In those treatments, pharmacists provide the pharmaceutical treatment. Combination chemotherapy of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC therapy) is one of the standard regimens for breast cancer.

Rapid and sensitive HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of paraquat and diquat in human serum.

A rapid and sensitive HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of paraquat and diquat in human serum has been developed. After deproteinization of the serum with 10% trichloroacetic acid, the samples were separated on a reversed-phase column, and subsequently reduced to their radicals with alkaline sodium hydrosulfite solution. These radicals were monitored with a UV detector at 391 nm.