Publications by authors named "Hiroyuki Murota"

Article Synopsis
  • The 2024 clinical practice guidelines for atopic dermatitis (AD) focus on effectively managing this condition characterized by itchy, relapsing eczema.
  • The primary goal of treatment is to quickly induce remission by reducing skin inflammation and itching, primarily using topical anti-inflammatory medications.
  • The updated guidelines introduce five new treatments and emphasize the importance of evaluating research and weighing the pros and cons of various medical options to enhance patient outcomes.
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We previously reported endogenous activation of the DNA damage response (DDR) in the epidermis surrounding basal cell carcinoma resected from Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors, suggesting the presence of genomic instability (GIN) in the survivors as a late effect of radiation. Dual-color immunofluorescence (IF) analysis of TP53-binding protein-1 (53BP1) and a proliferative indicator, Ki-67, to elucidate GIN in tumor tissues revealed that abnormal 53BP1 expression is closely associated with carcinogenesis in several organs. The present study aimed to confirm the presence of radiation-induced GIN in the non-neoplastic epidermis of patients with radiation-induced skin cancer.

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  • Prurigo chronica multiformis is a specific type of skin condition primarily recognized in Japan, especially among elderly patients, characterized by extremely itchy, swollen patches on the skin.
  • The lesions evolve from small, itchy bumps to more solid nodules that might group together, often appearing on areas like the lower abdomen and lower back.
  • There is a need for more research on its incidence, variations based on geography, and how it relates to other skin diseases, and dermatologists should be informed about its unique clinical features.
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Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic condition with an increasing incidence in Japan. Difamilast and delgocitinib are both new topical drugs for AD proven to be efficacious and safe in phases 2 and 3 clinical trials in Japan. However, there are no head-to-head trials comparing their efficacy and safety.

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Background: Systemic inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines affects the skin microbiome; however, the impact of systemic anti-inflammatory therapy on the skin fungal microbiome is poorly understood. To examine the effects of cytokine inhibition on the fungal community on human skin and oral mucosa, we analyzed the composition of the skin mycobiome before and after IL-23 inhibition.

Methods: The study enrolled 15 psoriasis patients.

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α-Gal syndrome (AGS) is an allergic reaction to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) found in the salivary glands of ticks, mammalian meat excluding primates, and some antibody preparations, such as cetuximab. We report two cases of AGS diagnosed after ingestion of wild boar meat. Patient 1, a male in his 70s, developed anaphylactic shock about 3 h after eating wild boar meat.

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Article Synopsis
  • Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic skin condition characterized by itchy nodules, and its unclear causes complicate effective treatment and diagnosis, especially in Japan.
  • A survey of 117 Japanese dermatologists revealed that they typically diagnose PN based on clinical signs and patient interviews, primarily assess severity by counting itchy nodules, and commonly use topical corticosteroids and antihistamines for treatment.
  • Many dermatologists expressed dissatisfaction with the current treatment options for severe PN, indicating a significant need for improved medications and diagnostic methods.
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  • The study developed a specific anxiety scale for hyperhidrosis symptoms (ASSHS) due to the lack of existing measurements that accounted for anxiety related to excessive sweating.
  • The scale was created after surveying 1,207 participants and was tested for reliability and validity, resulting in a strong alpha coefficient (α = 0.94) indicating consistency.
  • Factor analysis revealed the ASSHS focuses on "anxiety specific to hyperhidrosis symptoms," and it showed moderate positive correlations with other established anxiety measures and severity scales.*
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Article Synopsis
  • Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a long-term skin condition that impacts the quality of life, and treatment options in Japan are limited.
  • A study tested the safety and effectiveness of the drug nemolizumab at two different doses (30 mg and 60 mg) compared to a placebo over 16 weeks in patients with PN.
  • Results showed significant reductions in itching and improvements in skin condition, sleep, and quality of life for those taking nemolizumab, with both doses being well tolerated.*
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Background: Itch is the most troublesome symptom of atopic dermatitis, and it is important to assess it appropriately for optimal treatment. We discussed issues regarding itch and the most appropriate methods of assessment at the Atopic Itch Consensus Meeting (AICOM), attended by physicians and researchers with expertise in itch treatment and research.

Methods: The AICOM participants prepared a draft consensus statement that addressed the most appropriate itch assessment methods for age groups <2 years, 2-6 years, 7-14 years, and ≥15 years.

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γδ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells have attracted much attention as promising effector cell subsets for adoptive transfer for use in the treatment of malignant and infectious diseases, because they exhibit potent cytotoxic activity against a variety of malignant tumors, as well as virus-infected cells, in a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-unrestricted manner. In addition, γδ T cells and NK cells express a high level of CD16, a receptor required for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL) is caused by human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1) and is characterized by the proliferation of malignant peripheral CD4 T cells.

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Introduction: Upadacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor approved in multiple countries for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Here we present long-term data for up to 3 years of continuous upadacitinib treatment in Japanese patients with AD.

Methods: Rising Up was a phase 3, randomized, multicenter study in Japan investigating the safety and efficacy of upadacitinib in patients with moderate-to-severe AD.

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Background: The Recap of atopic eczema (RECAP), a new core outcome of the atopic dermatitis trial, was translated into Japanese and linguistically validated.

Methods: Translation into Japanese was accomplished according to the ISPOR (International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcome Research) guidelines and the basic guidelines for scale translation. The translation process included two forward translations, reconciliation with native English speakers, third-party back translation, cognitive debriefing, review and harmonization by the original authors.

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Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder with a high disease burden. In this cross-sectional, web-based survey, Global Questions (GQ), the Numerical Rating Scales (NRS) for pruritus, burning sensation and sleep disturbance, the Short-Form-8 (SF-8) Health Survey, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI), and Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication-9 (TSQM-9) scores were used to assess the current disease burden and treatment satisfaction among patients with PN in Japan. In total, 97 patients were included (55.

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Eccrine sweat glands play an essential role in regulating body temperature. Sweat is produced in the coiled secretory portion of the gland, which is surrounded by obliquely aligned myoepithelial cells; the sweat is then peristaltically transported to the skin surface. Myoepithelial cells are contractile and have been implicated in sweat transport, but how myoepithelial cells contract and transport sweat remains unexplored.

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Article Synopsis
  • Sweating plays a critical role in maintaining human body temperature, but disorders affecting sweating can lead to various health issues without established treatments.
  • Researchers compared gene expression in sweat glands of patients with different sweating disorders and discovered that certain olfactory receptors are differently expressed in those glands.
  • The study found that a compound called β-ionone affects sweating levels differently in males and females, suggesting that olfactory receptors could be targeted for new treatments of sweat disorders.
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Our Research Group for Rare and Intractable Skin Diseases operates within the Project for Research on Intractable Diseases of the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan and is conducting research on eight rare intractable skin diseases. Five of these are monogenic disorders (epidermolysis bullosa, congenital ichthyoses, oculocutaneous albinism, pseudoxanthoma elasticum, and hereditary angioedema), and for a sixth [generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP)], genetic predisposing factors are important. This review introduces our activities for raising public awareness of these six intractable hereditary skin diseases and summarizes our recent achievements in clarifying the situation of medical treatments for these diseases in Japan.

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Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a genodermatosis defined by cutaneous photosensitivity with an increased risk of skin tumors because of DNA repair deficiency. The worldwide prevalence of XP is ~1 to 4 in million, with higher incidence in some countries and regions including Japan (1 in 22,000) and North Africa due to founder mutations and a high degree of consanguinity. Among XP, the complementation group F (XP-F), is a rare form (1% of worldwide XP); however, this is underdiagnosed, because the / gene is essential for fetal development and most of previously reported / pathogenic variants are hypomorphs causing relatively mild phenotypes.

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Introduction: Severe dermal pain triggered by sweating stimuli, such as bathing, exercise, and mental stress, significantly affects patients' daily lives. The pathomechanism underlying the sweating-induced dermal pain remains poorly understood and there exists no standard treatment for such pain. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of icatibant as an analgesic, a bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist, in treating sweating-induced dermal pain, and to establish the role of bradykinin in pain induction.

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Hair follicles (HFs) undergo cyclic phases of growth, regression, and rest in association with hair shafts to maintain the hair coat. Nonsense mutations in the tight junction protein claudin (CLDN)-1 cause hair loss in humans. Therefore, we evaluated the roles of CLDNs in hair retention.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A study analyzed data from 1003 psoriasis patients treated at 20 facilities in Western Japan, focusing on the survival rates of various systemic treatments, including biologics and traditional drugs, from 2010 onward.
  • * Recently released interleukin 17 inhibitors had higher survival rates overall, but the differences were less pronounced for patients starting treatment after 2017; factors like obesity and coexisting psoriatic arthritis were linked to worse drug survival rates, while no significant safety concerns were reported
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Article Synopsis
  • - A study from the West Japan Psoriasis Registry examined 1847 psoriasis patients and found that 10.8% had a family history of the condition, which correlated with an earlier onset and longer duration of the disease.
  • - Patients with a family history of psoriasis were more likely to develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA), with a higher percentage (34.7%) compared to those without a family history (26.6%).
  • - The research suggests that genetics play a significant role in the development of PsA, indicating that dermatologists should pay closer attention to joint symptoms in patients with psoriasis who have a family history of the disease.
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We reported a detailed obstetric course of a Japanese patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the AEBP1 gene. She was diagnosed with classical EDS at 3 years of age. At 33 years, whole-exome sequencing revealed a homozygous nonsense variant (c.

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Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by vascular endothelial dysfunction and skin fibrosis. Recently, the presence and pathogenic role of immune complexes (ICs) of SSc patients were reported. However, the identities of antigens in these ICs are unknown.

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