Therapeutic drug monitoring of telaprevir in chronic hepatitis C patients receiving telaprevir-based triple therapy is useful for predicting virological response.

Objectives: This prospective, pharmacokinetic study was done to investigate the impact of telaprevir plasma trough concentration (Ctrough) in the early stage of treatment on the response to telaprevir-based triple therapy for chronic hepatitis C patients.

Methods: Participants were 70 chronic hepatitis C patients infected with genotype 1. All patients received 12 week triple therapy that included telaprevir (2250 mg/day), pegylated interferon-α2b (pegylated-IFNα2b) (60-150 μg/week) and ribavirin (600-1000 mg/day) followed by a 12 week dual therapy that included pegylated-IFNα2b and ribavirin.

Longitudinal assessment of liver stiffness by transient elastography for chronic hepatitis B patients treated with nucleoside analog.

Aim:   To evaluate the association between liver stiffness measured by transient elastography (FibroScan) and the efficacy of long-term nucleoside analog (NA) treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Methods:   Study 1: Forty-four chronic HBV patients had liver stiffness measured by FibroScan and underwent liver biopsy. Study 2: Group A: 22 patients started NA treatment at entry and FibroScan was done annually for 3 years.

Long-term effects of lamivudine treatment in Japanese chronic hepatitis B patients.

Aim: To analyze the association between the emergence of tyrosine-methionine-asparatate-asparatate (YMDD) mutants (reverse transcription; rtM204I/V) and deterioration of liver function during long-term lamivudine treatment of Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods: The data of 61 consecutive Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis B who underwent continuous lamivudine treatment for more than 24 mo and had a virological response were analyzed. Analysis of YMDD mutants was done by real-time polymerase chain reaction with LightCycler probe hybridization assay for up to 90 mo (mean, 50.

Risk factors for and the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease and its relationship to carotid atherosclerosis: the Kyushu and Okinawa Population Study (KOPS).

Aim: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with cerebrovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, and other cardiovascular disease. We investigated the prevalence of and factors related to PAD to clarify the relationship between PAD and carotid atherosclerosis in a cross-sectional population-based study.

Methods: The study included 2,402 (900 males and 1,502 females; mean+/-SD=64.

Efficacy and safety of ezetimibe for Japanese patients with dyslipidaemia: The ESSENTIAL Study.

Background: There are insufficient data available on the efficacy and safety of lipid-lowering therapy for patients with dyslipidaemia complicated by multiple metabolic abnormalities.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of ezetimibe 10 mg/day administered to Japanese patients with dyslipidaemia.

Methods: This was a prospective study carried out at Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.

Chronic Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with peripheral arterial disease.

It is reported that Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with coronary atherosclerosis both epidemiologically and pathogenetically, but no conclusions have yet been reached. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between H. pylori infection and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Association of hyperhomocysteinemia and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection with carotid atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease in Japanese patients.

An elevated plasma level of homocysteine (Hcy) and infection by Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) have been suggested as independent risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis (CA) and coronary artery disease (CAD), but the mechanisms involved are unclear. We investigated the correlation between positivity for antibody to C.

[Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) onset during meningitis and sepsis].

A 39-year-old man with a high fever, headache, and stiff neck, and Kernig and Brudzinski signs admitted in June 2004 had a WBC of 10,680/microL and CRP of 10.5mg/dL. Streptococcus pneumoniae was detected in blood and spinal fluid culture, but brain CT was normal.

Thymus and activation regulated chemokines in children with atopic dermatitis: Kyushu University Ishigaki Atopic Dermatitis Study (KIDS).

The purpose of this population-based study was to investigate the clinical significance of serum thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) in children with atopic dermatitis (AD). Between 2003 and 2004, 1359 Japanese children aged 5 years and under were prospectively followed. Serum levels of TARC by using an ELISA in each child were monitored throughout the study period.

High molecular weight form of adiponectin levels of Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to clarify the correlation between serum adiponectin level and the properties of hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Methods: A meal test was carried out for insulin resistance assessment in 81 patients with chronic HCV infection. Blood samples were taken before and after the test to measure serum insulin and plasma glucose (PG).

Effect on carotid atherosclerosis of probucol plus levofloxacin for Chlamydia pneumoniae infection.

To investigate the effect of levofloxacin on carotid atherosclerosis, patients with hypercholesterolemia whose carotid atherosclerosis was not improved by probucol therapy (500 mg/day) for 24 months were enrolled. All patients were seropositive for anti C. pneumoniae IgA and/or IgG.

Impact of peripheral arterial disease and acute ischemic stroke.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke, but data on the relationship between PAD and acute ischemic stroke are lacking. Therefore, we investigated this relationship. A total of 101 patients were enrolled on admission to Harasanshin General Hospital (Fukuoka, Japan) with their first ischemic stroke.

Both hepatitis C virus and Chlamydia pneumoniae infection are related to the progression of carotid atherosclerosis in patients undergoing lipid lowering therapy.

Recent experimental and epidemiological findings suggest that infectious agents may play a role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. We previously reported that Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) infection reduces the effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy for carotid atherosclerosis and that this micro-organism may play a role in the progression of atherosclerosis.