Publications by authors named "Hiratsuka M"

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an incurable intestinal disease, with current treatments mainly focused on inflammation control and, in severe cases, surgical resection. Recent studies have highlighted the need for new therapies that promote tissue regeneration. R-spondin-1 (RSPO1) and interleukin-22 (IL-22) have shown anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects in UC models, but have short half-lives and poor targeting abilities.

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The involvement of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters in plasma clozapine (CLZ) dynamics has not been well examined in Japanese patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). Therefore, this clinical study investigated the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of various pharmacokinetic factors (drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters) and dynamic changes in CLZ. Additionally, we aimed to determine whether CLZ acts as a substrate for pharmacokinetic factors using in vitro assays and molecular docking calculations.

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The microphase-separated structures of block copolymers are inherently highly ordered local structures, commonly characterized by differences in domain width and curvature. By focusing on diblock copolymers, we propose local order parameters (LOPs) that accurately distinguish between adjacent microphase-separated structures on the phase diagram. We used the Molecular Assembly structure Learning package for Identifying Order parameters (MALIO) to evaluate the structure classification performance of 186 candidate LOPs.

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  • - The enzyme CYP2B6 is crucial for metabolizing drugs like efavirenz and propofol, and genetic variations in the CYP2B6 gene can alter its effectiveness and lead to side effects.
  • - This study examined 29 rare genetic variants of CYP2B6 found in a large Japanese population, showing that some variants significantly reduce enzyme activity.
  • - Researchers used techniques like western blotting and molecular simulations to identify how structural changes in the enzyme affect its function, which could aid in predicting drug metabolism and minimizing adverse effects.
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  • The CYP3A4 enzyme is crucial for metabolizing about 30% of drugs, including key antimalarials, and variations in this enzyme can lead to differences in drug metabolism among individuals.
  • Researchers studied CYP3A4 polymorphisms in populations from malaria-affected regions in Lake Victoria, Kenya, and Vanuatu, analyzing archived blood samples to find genetic variations.
  • They identified multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in both regions, with a higher level of genetic variance in Vanuatu, contributing to better understanding and potential improvements in personalized medicine for antimalarial treatments.
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Aims: Skin perfusion pressure (SPP) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) are useful in screening for peripheral arterial disease in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). We compared the prognostic abilities of the SPP and ABI in predicting the composite outcomes of mortality and atherosclerotic vascular events.

Methods: This single-center prospective cohort study enrolled 258 patients undergoing HD.

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Cytokine receptor-like factor 2 (CRLF2) and interleukin-7 receptor α (IL-7Rα) form a receptor for thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). A somatic mutation consisting of the substitution of five amino acids (SLLLL) in the transmembrane domain of CRLF2 with three amino acids, including glutamic acid, isoleucine, and methionine (insEIM), which has been identified in acute lymphocytic leukemia, causes the TSLP-independent dimerization with IL-7Rα and activation. However, the dimerization mechanism remains unclear.

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Background: The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes guidelines recommend nephrology referral for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 4 to 5, significant proteinuria and persistent microscopic haematuria. However, the recommendations are opinion-based and which patients with CKD benefit more from nephrology referral has not been elucidated.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, patients referred to our nephrology outpatient clinic from April 2017 to March 2019 were included.

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  • The study focuses on CYP2A13, a monooxygenase enzyme involved in breaking down nicotine and other compounds, which has genetic variants that reduce its activity.
  • Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to analyze the three-dimensional structures of CYP2A13 variants compared to the normal form (wild type) over 1000 ns.
  • Results showed that certain variants altered interactions with heme and affected the enzyme's structure, leading to decreased enzymatic activity, providing insights into the molecular reasons behind this reduction.
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  • The study aimed to profile participants from Miyagi Prefecture during the second phase of the Tohoku Medical Megabank Community-Based Cohort Study, focusing on their characteristics based on their initial survey participation types.
  • Conducted between June 2017 and March 2021, the survey involved questionnaire data as well as blood, urine, and physiological tests, with three participation types identified in the baseline survey.
  • Results showed a 57.7% participation rate, with an 80% participation rate among those visiting community support centers, revealing similar traits among Type 1 and Type 2 respondents, ultimately aiding in understanding the long-term health impacts of disasters.
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Genetic variants of human flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) were investigated using an updated Japanese population panel containing 54,000 subjects (the previous panel contained 38,000 subjects). One stop codon mutation and six amino acid-substituted FMO3 variants were newly identified in the updated databank. Of these, two substituted variants (p.

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Nickel (Ni) is a typical hapten in allergic contact dermatitis. However, it has been used in various metal materials due to its usefulness. Although Ni ions induce apoptosis of inflammatory cells and the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-8 (IL-8), the effects of the apoptotic pathway on the signaling that induces cytokine production have not been sufficiently clarified.

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Background: Clarifying how tongue pressure in convalescent stroke patients affects oral condition and activities of daily living (ADL) is important for developing oral rehabilitation programs and for rehabilitation care to reacquire ADL.

Objective: To clarify how tongue pressure is associated with oral status, ADL, and nutritional status in stroke patients.

Methods: Sixty-eight patients aged 77.

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  • Down syndrome (DS) happens when there are three copies of chromosome 21, and scientists have used mice to study it.
  • The TcMAC21 mouse model has similar brain issues to humans with DS, like problems with learning and memory.
  • Researchers found that these mice have fewer important brain cells and specific changes in proteins that are important for brain function.
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  • Modern medicine is shifting towards personalized approaches, emphasizing the importance of multi-omics data to better understand diseases and individual genetic variations across different ethnic groups.
  • Projects like the UK Biobank, All of Us, and the Tohoku Medical Megabank have been collecting vital biological specimens to support personalized medicine initiatives.
  • The jMorp web database, which started in 2015, has been updated to include a broader range of data (metabolome, genome, transcriptome, and metagenome) and improved user accessibility for analyzing the diversity of the Japanese population.
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Cytochrome P450 4F2 (CYP4F2) is an enzyme that is involved in the metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA), vitamin E and K, and xenobiotics including drugs. polymorphism (rs2108622; c.1297G>A; p.

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Background: Cytokine receptor-like factor 2 (CRLF2) is a subunit of the receptor for thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). A somatic mutation (insEIM) in the transmembrane domains of CRLF2 has been identified in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and Glu-Ile-Met (EIM) CRLF2 induces constitutive activation of signals. However, the signaling mechanism remains unclear.

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A patient with sarcoidosis was found to have a massive left pleural effusion. Her chest computed tomography showed small nodules in the lung parenchyma and swelling of the hilar lymph nodes, with normal visceral and parietal pleura. Thoracoscopy showed white nodules on the visceral pleura and normal parietal pleura, which were resected.

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Background/aim: The indications for limited resection in high-risk patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of the preoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in high-risk patients undergoing limited resection.

Patients And Methods: High-risk patients undergoing limited resection for stage I NSCLC in our institution from 2005 to 2020 were retrospectively reviewed.

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Vimentin is a stable mesenchymal immunohistochemical marker and is widely recognized as a major marker of mesenchymal tumors. The purpose of the present study was to investigate if the vimentin expression status might serve as a significant predictor of outcomes in patients with invasive breast carcinoma of no special type (IBC-NST) and to investigate, by comprehensive RNA sequencing analyses, the mechanisms involved in the heightened malignant potential of vimentin-positive IBC-NSTs. This study, conducted using the data of 855 patients with IBC-NST, clearly identified vimentin expression status as a very important independent biological parameter for accurately predicting the outcomes in patients with IBC-NST.

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Single-nucleotide substitutions of human flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 () identified in the whole-genome sequences of the updated Japanese population reference panel (now containing 38,000 subjects) were investigated. In this study, two stop codon mutations, two frameshifts, and 43 amino-acid-substituted variants were identified. Among these 47 variants, one stop codon mutation, one frameshift, and 24 substituted variants were already recorded in the National Center for Biotechnology Information database.

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Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an allergic skin disease, triggered by excessive type 2 immune reactions. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an epithelial-derived cytokine that induces type 2 immune response through dendritic cell activation. Therefore, TSLP inhibitors may serve as novel antiallergic drugs.

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Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) are rare but severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions. Certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types have been associated with SJS/TEN onset, e.g.

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CYP3A4, which contributes to the metabolism of more than 30% of clinically used drugs, exhibits high variation in its activity; therefore, predicting CYP3A4 activity before drug treatment is vital for determining the optimal dosage for each patient. We aimed to develop and validate an LC-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method that simultaneously measures the levels of CYP3A4 activity-related predictive biomarkers (6β-hydroxycortisol (6β-OHC), cortisol (C), 1β-hydroxydeoxycholic acid (1β-OHDCA), and deoxycholic acid (DCA)). Chromatographic separation was achieved using a YMC-Triart C18 column and a gradient flow of the mobile phase comprising deionized water/25% ammonia solution (100 : 0.

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