Clonal landscape of autoantibody-secreting plasmablasts in COVID-19 patients.

Whereas severe COVID-19 is often associated with elevated autoantibody titers, the underlying mechanism behind their generation has remained unclear. Here we report clonal composition and diversity of autoantibodies in humoral response to SARS-CoV-2. Immunoglobulin repertoire analysis and characterization of plasmablast-derived monoclonal antibodies uncovered clonal expansion of plasmablasts producing cardiolipin (CL)-reactive autoantibodies.

Splenectomy unveils thrombocytosis in underlying myeloproliferative neoplasms with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction.

Extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) is a rare disease with myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) as the most common cause. We report that hypersplenic hematologic changes in EHPVO might be eliminated by MPN. Through experience with splenectomy for variceal control with EHPVO, we suspected that spleen might mask MPN-induced thrombocytosis, and that MPN might have a significant influence on excessive thrombocytosis after splenectomy.

Prediction of Oral Drug Absorption in Rats from In Vitro Data.

Purpose: In drug discovery, rats are widely used for pharmacological and toxicological studies. We previously reported that a mechanism-based oral absorption model, the gastrointestinal unified theoretical framework (GUT framework), can appropriately predict the fraction of a dose absorbed (Fa) in humans and dogs. However, there are large species differences between humans and rats.

Serum IgG4 as a biomarker reflecting pathophysiology and post-operative recurrence in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background: Type 2 chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), especially eosinophilic CRS (ECRS), is an intractable upper airway inflammatory disease. Establishment of serum biomarkers reflecting the pathophysiology of CRS is desirable in a clinical setting. As IgG4 production is regulated by type 2 cytokines, we sought to determine whether serum IgG4 levels can be used as a biomarker for CRS.

Prediction Characteristics of Oral Absorption Simulation Software Evaluated Using Structurally Diverse Low-Solubility Drugs.

The purpose of the present study was to characterize current biopharmaceutics modeling and simulation software regarding the prediction of the fraction of a dose absorbed (Fa) in humans. As commercial software products, GastroPlus™ and Simcyp® were used. In addition, the gastrointestinal unified theoretical framework, a simple and publicly accessible model, was used as a benchmark.

Harmonizing solubility measurement to lower inter-laboratory variance - progress of consortium of biopharmaceutical tools (CoBiTo) in Japan.

The purpose of the present study was to harmonize the protocol of equilibrium solubility measurements for poorly water-soluble drugs to lower inter-laboratory variance. The "mandatory" and "recommended" procedures for the shake-flask method were harmonized based on the knowledge and experiences of each company and information from the literature. The solubility of model drugs was measured by the harmonized protocol (HP) and the non-harmonized proprietary protocol of each company (nonHP).

Clearance Gap: Does It Really Matter for the Evaluation of Vascular Access Function?

Backgrounds: Vascular access (VA) stenosis increases the risk of VA obstruction due to the gradual progress of intimal thickening. Therefore, we should try to detect VA stenosis early. However, we do not have a cutoff for when a difference between prescribed Kt/V and delivered Kt/V reflects a clinical issue.

Evolution in practice patterns and long-term outcomes of coronary revascularization from bare-metal stent era to drug-eluting stent era in Japan.

Treatment of coronary artery disease has significantly changed over the past decade including an introduction of drug-eluting stents and a more stringent adherence to evidence-based medications. However, the impact of these advanced treatment methods on the practice patterns and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing coronary revascularization in the real world has not been yet fully evaluated. The present study population consisted of the 2 groups of patients who underwent their first coronary revascularization in the Coronary REvascularization Demonstrating Outcome Study in Kyoto Registry Cohort-1 (bare-metal stent era: January 2000 to December 2002, n = 8,986) and Cohort-2 (drug-eluting stent era: January 2005 to December 2007, n = 10,339).

Successful treatment of three cases of generalized pustular psoriasis with granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis.

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare form of psoriasis characterized by the presence of variable numbers of sterile pustules appearing in erythematous and scaly lesions, which are associated with moderate to severe constitutional symptoms. It can be life-threatening especially in the elderly; therefore, medical care must be performed in rapid succession of treatment especially in refractory cases. We have performed granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis (GCAP) on three GPP cases associated with several systemic and laboratory findings.

[Comparison of thoracoscopic and open repair of esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula].

Background: With the increasing use of endoscopic surgery in children, several papers report the comparison between the thoracoscopic and open repair of the neonatal esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF). Most of them focus on the duration and outcome of the surgery with few focusing on the neonatal tolerance to the thoracoscopic procedure and intraoperative anesthetic management.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the repair surgery of EA/TEF performed during 2001 and 2006 in our institution and compared thoracoscopic repair (thoracoscopy group, n=5) with open repair (open group, n=7).

Genotype-phenotype correlations of KCNJ2 mutations in Japanese patients with Andersen-Tawil syndrome.

Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) is a rare inherited disorder characterized by periodic paralysis, mild dysmorphic features, and QT or QU prolongation with ventricular arrhythmias in electrocardiograms (ECGs). Mutations of KCNJ2, encoding the human inward rectifying potassium channel Kir 2.1, have been identified in patients with ATS.

Saturation of azimuthal anisotropy in Au + Au collisions at (square root)s(NN) = 62-200 GeV.

New measurements are presented for charged hadron azimuthal correlations at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at (square root)s(NN) = 62.4 and 200 GeV. They are compared to earlier measurements obtained at (square root)s(NN) = 130 GeV and in Pb + Pb collisions at (square root)s(NN) = 17.