Elucidation of Factors Influencing Spinal Ankylosis in Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Objective: Spondyloarthritis encompasses conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Advanced axial spondyloarthritis causes significant spinal fusion, affecting daily activities. Recent therapeutic agents have enhanced the control of inflammation, yet they do not consistently stop the axial progression.

Comparisons of plasma aldosterone and renin data between an automated chemiluminescent immunoanalyzer and conventional radioimmunoassays in the screening and diagnosis of primary aldosteronism.

Determining values of plasma renin activity (PRA) or plasma active renin concentration (ARC), plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), and aldosterone-to-renin ratio (ARR) is essential to diagnose primary aldosteronism (PA), but it takes several days with conventional radioimmunoassays (RIAs). Chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassays for PAC and ARC using the Accuraseed® immunoanalyzer facilitated the determination, but relations between Accuraseed® immunoanalyzer-based and RIA-based values in samples of PA confirmatory tests and adrenal venous sampling remained to be elucidated. We addressed this issue in the present study.

Parameters of captopril challenge test can predict results of other confirmatory tests for primary aldosteronism and propose the next test to be done.

In Japan, primary aldosteronism (PA) is diagnosed if any one of the captopril challenge test (CCT), saline infusion test (SIT), furosemide-upright test (FUP), and oral salt-loading test (OST) is positive. The present study aimed to investigate if parameters of CCT, the safest confirmatory test, could predict decisions of other tests and propose the next test to diagnose PA in CCT-negative patients. In a cross-sectional design, 142 patients, who were referred to our hospital for the scrutiny of PA and underwent at least two confirmatory tests, were enrolled.

Thyroid lesions in the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) of Niigata, central Japan: a possible association with dioxin accumulation.

Necropsy and histopathologic examination of three Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) shot in Niigata, central Japan, revealed goitrous changes in the thyroids. Thyroids had a hypertrophic follicular epithelium, loss or deficiency of luminal colloid, occasional small follicles suggesting hyperplasia, and occasional collapsed follicles. Irregularly shaped follicles were frequent, and hyperemia, deposition of dark pigment, and sporadic lymphoid aggregates were also seen.

Efficacy and pharmacokinetics of fluvoxamine maleate in patients with mild depression undergoing hemodialysis.

Seven Japanese patients on maintenance hemodialysis who were comorbid with mild depression were medicated with 50 mg/day fluvoxamine maleate for 28 days. Effectiveness was obtained in four out of seven patients (57%). The plasma fluvoxamine concentrations were examined in three patients.