The approval of revised diagnostic criteria for DIC from the Japanese Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis.

As proposed diagnostic criteria for DIC from the Japanese Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis has been approved and revised, the contents and changes are informed.

Activation of MMP-9 activity by acrolein in saliva from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and its mechanism.

We have recently reported that the altered recognition patterns of immunoglobulins due to acrolein conjugation are at least partially responsible for autoimmune diseases in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). In the current study, it was found that the specific activity (activity/ng protein) of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in saliva was elevated about 2.4-fold in pSS patients.

Proposal for new diagnostic criteria for DIC from the Japanese Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious disease that, in the presence of underlying disease, causes persistent, generalized, marked coagulation activation. Early treatment based on an appropriate diagnosis is very important for improving patients' prognosis, to which end diagnostic criteria play a key role. Several criteria have been proposed, but each has its strengths and weaknesses, and improved criteria are needed.

Increase in acrolein-conjugated immunoglobulins in saliva from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Background: We previously reported that the level of protein-conjugated acrolein (PC-Acro), a marker of cell or tissue damage, was increased in saliva from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), and that the level of PC-Acro was well correlated with the severity of pSS.

Methods: Acrolein-conjugated immunoglobulins were measured in saliva from pSS patients.

Results: The activities of autoantibodies recognizing Sjögren's syndrome SSA (Ro) and SSB (La) proteins in saliva from pSS patients were approximately 3- to 5-fold higher than those from control subjects.

Post-marketing surveillance data of thrombomodulin alfa: sub-analysis in patients with sepsis-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Background: Thrombomodulin alfa (TM-α, recombinant thrombomodulin) significantly improved disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) when compared with heparin therapy in a phase III study. Post-marketing surveillance of TM-α was performed to evaluate the effects and safety in patients with sepsis-induced DIC.

Methods: From May 2008 to April 2010, a total of 1,787 patients with sepsis-induced DIC treated with TM-α were registered.

Thrombomodulin alfa treatment in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation: a retrospective analysis of an open-label, multicenter, post-marketing surveillance study cohort.

Introduction: Patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) can develop disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) that results in life-threatening hemorrhagic complications. Studies regarding the safety and efficacy of thrombomodulin alfa (TM-α; recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin) in patients with APL and DIC are limited.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective evaluation was performed on a cohort of 172 patients with APL from an open-label, multicenter, post-marketing surveillance study of TM-α.

Postmarketing Surveillance of Recombinant Human Soluble Thrombomodulin (Thrombomodulin α) in Pediatric Patients With Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation.

Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (thrombomodulin α [TM-α]) has been marketed as a novel anticoagulant for disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in Japan since 2008. Postmarketing surveillance (PMS) has been conducted since its approval. As effectiveness and safety were not previously determined in pediatric patients, this study evaluated PMS data and examined the usefulness of TM-α in treating pediatric DIC.

Recombinant soluble human thrombomodulin (thrombomodulin alfa) in the treatment of neonatal disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Unlabelled: Recombinant soluble human thrombomodulin (TM-α) has been shown to be useful in the treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in a heparin-controlled study and has been available for clinical use in Japan since 2008. However, data on its use for neonatal DIC have not been reported from any clinical studies, so efficacy and safety were analyzed in 60 neonatal DIC patients identified in post-marketing surveillance. The DIC resolution rate as of the day after last administration of TM-α was 47.

Impact of recombinant soluble thrombomodulin (thrombomodulin alfa) on disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Introduction: We assessed the safety and effectiveness of recombinant soluble thrombomodulin (thrombomodulin alfa, TM-α) in the treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in a post-marketing surveillance.

Methods: The cases of 3548 patients with DIC caused by infection (n=2516, Infection-DIC) or hematological malignancy (n=1032, Hemat-DIC) were analyzed and compared to the results of a phase III (P-III) study.

Results: The DIC scores were significantly decreased in the Infection-DIC and Hemat-DIC groups with TM-α treatment (both P<0.

Clinical value of assessing the response to imatinib monitored by interphase FISH and RQ-PCR for BCR-ABL in peripheral blood for long-term survival of chronic phase CML patients: results of the Niigata CML-multi-institutional co-operative clinical study.

This retrospective analysis investigated the prognostic value of monitoring the response to imatinib using peripheral blood (PB) samples and the impact of the response on outcome in 133 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). We divided the response into 3 categories according to the results of neutrophil (N)-FISH and BCR-ABL transcript levels in PB; more than a 3-log reduction [major molecular response (MMR)], between a 2-log and 3-log reduction or negative with N-FISH [complete cytogenetic response equivalent (CCyRe)], N-FISH positive or less than a 2-log reduction (non-CCyRe). The median follow-up was 5.

Molecular characterization of 3 factor V mutations, R2174L, V1813M, and a 5-bp deletion, that cause factor V deficiency.

We identified 3 mutations in the factor V (FV) gene (F5) associated with FV deficiency in 3 unrelated Japanese patients. Patient 1 had severe bleeding symptoms (plasma FV activity, <1%; FV antigen, 9%) and was a compound heterozygote for a novel 5-bp deletion in exon 22 and the V1813M mutation. Patient 2 had moderate bleeding symptoms (plasma FV activity, <1%; FV antigen, 4%) and was homozygous for the V1813M mutation.

In vitro effect of cyclosporin A, mitomycin C and prednisolone on cell kinetics in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Introduction: Vascular endothelial cell damage plays an important role in microvascular thrombogenesis. In vivo administration of cyclosporin A or mitomycin C sometimes results in thrombotic microangiopathy in patients.

Materials And Methods: The effects of cyclosporin A, mitomycin C and/or prednisolone on the cell cycle in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells were investigated to evaluate drug-induced endothelial cell damage and the protective effect of prednisolone on endothelial cells against the damage by cyclosporin A or mitomycin C in vitro.

A comparative double-blind randomized trial of activated protein C and unfractionated heparin in the treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation.

A randomized prospective double-blind trial was performed to compare the safety and efficacy of human activated protein C (APC) and unfractionated heparin for the treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). One hundred thirty-two patients with DIC were enrolled in this study: 63 patients received APC (12.5 U [2.