Development of a novel artificial intelligence algorithm to detect pulmonary nodules on chest radiography.

Background: In this study, we aimed to develop a novel artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to support pulmonary nodule detection, which will enable physicians to efficiently interpret chest radiographs for lung cancer diagnosis.

Methods: We analyzed chest X-ray images obtained from a health examination center in Fukushima and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Chest X-ray 14 dataset. We categorized these data into two types: type A included both Fukushima and NIH datasets, and type B included only the Fukushima dataset.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis in childhood: pathogenesis, prognostic factors and treatment.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a systemic disorder characterized by leukocytoclastic vasculitis involving the capillaries and the deposition of IgA immune complexes. Renal involvement is the principal cause of morbidity and mortality in children with HSP. Thus, it is important to clarify the onset mechanism as well as the prognostic factors of Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) and to identify the most appropriate treatment.

Role of vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin 1 in renal injury in hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Background/aims: The recovery process from renal injury in hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) remains obscure. In order to clarify the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin 1 (Ang-1) in the renal recovery from HUS, we produced a model of mild HUS and examined the renal recovery process.

Methods: We investigated three groups of mice.

[Actual state of understanding and utilization of "home pharmacy" in residents and their regional differences].

To know the actual states of understanding and utilization of "home pharmacy" in regional residents and their regional differences, we performed questionnaire survey for the residents in Ueda-shi in Nagano and the Kita-tama area in Tokyo, where it was found in the past survey that the medical activities as "home pharmacy" in Ueda-shi was remarkably higher than those in the Kita-tama area. By the present survey it was confirmed that the percentages of the person who keeps "home pharmacy" and of the person who fixes a pharmacy to get a filled prescription were remarkably higher in the residents of Ueda-shi than those of the Kita-tama area. The level of understanding of "home pharmacy" was also higher in the residents of Ueda-shi.

Mizoribine attenuates renal injury and macrophage infiltration in patients with severe lupus nephritis.

The purine synthesis inhibitor mizoribine (MZR) has been successfully used without serious adverse effects in the treatment of several renal diseases including lupus nephritis. Besides its immunosuppressive effects, MZR has recently been reported to ameliorate tubulointerstitial fibrosis in rats via suppression of macrophage infiltration. However, there has been little information regarding the beneficial effects of MZR from the histologic standpoint in human lupus nephritis.

[Actual state of medical activities as "home pharmacy" including preventive medicine in community pharmacy and their regional differences].

To determine the "home pharmacy" activities including preventive medicine in community pharmacies and their regional differences, we conducted two questionnaire surveys of pharmacies belonging to the pharmacists' association in four areas, two metropolitan areas (Kita-tama area and Minato-ku in Tokyo) and two rural areas (Ueda-shi in Nagano and Aira-gun in Kagoshima) in 1998 and 2007. The questionnaire consisted of 42 questions including the scale and characteristics of the pharmacy, the offering of information to patients and information collection from patients, and activities related to home care medicine, environmental sanitation, and healthcare. Based on 14 factors in the questionnaire, an index of "Community Medicine Contributed by Home Pharmacies" was evaluated to represent the extent of activity including preventive medicine in pharmacy.

Mizoribine treatment of young patients with severe lupus nephritis: a clinicopathologic study by the tohoku pediatric study group.

Background: A novel purine synthesis inhibitor, mizoribine (MZR), with a similar activity to that of mycophenolate mofetil, was developed in Japan. We suspected that long-term oral MZR intermittent pulse therapy (MZR-P) might be more effective than the conventional daily MZR regimen due to the higher peak serum MZR levels that are achieved. Here, we examined the clinicopathologic efficacy of MZR-P treatment in 10 young patients with diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis (DPLN), including 3 patients who received MZR-P as their primary cytotoxic therapy.

Efficacy of single dose of oral mizoribine pulse therapy two times per week for frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome.

We assessed the efficacy of a single dose of oral mizoribine (MZB) pulse therapy two times per week for children with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome (FRNS). Eleven children with FRNS in remission were treated with oral MZB pulse therapy (daily dose 6 mg/kg; maximum total dose 300 mg). We compared their clinical manifestations before and after oral MZB pulse therapy and examined the changes in serum MZB concentration in each patient on the days when MZB was administered.

Efficacy of tonsillectomy plus methylprednisolone pulse therapy for a child with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura nephritis.

Henoch-Schoenlein purpura (HSP) is a systemic disorder characterized by a leukocytoplastic vasculitis involving small vessels with the deposition of immunoglobulin A (IgA) immune complexes. Renal involvement is the principal cause of morbidity and mortality in children with HSP. We report here an 11-year-old boy with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) accompanied by recurrent purpura and persistent nephropathy despite conventional therapy such as prednisolone, methylprednisolone pulse therapy and immunosuppressive agent (Mizoribine).

Long-term efficacy of low-density lipoprotein apheresis for focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Recently, there have been reports on the efficacy of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis (LDL-A) for focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in pediatric patients. However, there have been few reports on the long-term efficacy of LDL-A for FSGS in such patients. We report here a case of long-term efficacy of LDL-A for FSGS.

Agmatine suppresses mesangial cell proliferation by modulating polyamine metabolism.

Polyamines play an essential role in the growth and differentiation of mammalian cells. The depletion of intracellular polyamines results in the suppression of growth. Proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells (MC) is the most common pathologic change in many forms of glomerulonephritis.

Detection of enteroviruses in renal biopsies from patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

Viruses have been suspected to be one of the causes of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Recent studies have detected viruses in renal tissues of patients with IgAN. Enteroviruses have been reported as pathogenic agents in some renal diseases.

IgA deficiency and membranous glomerulonephritis presenting as nephrotic syndrome.

Selective IgA deficiency associated with glomerulonephritis is rare and no previous reports in childhood have been made of the association of IgA deficiency and membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN). We report a 5-year-old boy with selective IgA deficiency and MGN. He presented with nephrotic syndrome.

Uninephrectomy induces progressive glomerulosclerosis and apoptosis in anti-Thy1 glomerulonephritis.

Administration of the anti-Thy1 antibody in rats induces reversible glomerulonephritis resembling human mesangiolytic and mesangioproliferative diseases. The purpose of the present study was to design a model of irreversible glomerulosclerosis, using the anti-Thy1 antibody injection after uninephrectomy, and examine it, focusing on apoptosis in the process of progressive sclerotic changes. Wistar rats were divided into three groups: one-kidney groups (group I and III) and a two-kidney group (group II).

Epstein-Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome in a patient with lupus nephritis.

Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is an unusual but severe illness associated with a variety of infections, as well as genetic, malignant tumors, and autoimmune diseases. We report an 11-year-old girl with systemic lupus erythematosus and nephritis who developed HPS associated with Epstein-Barr virus reactivation. In our patient, the onset of reactive HPS might be related to immunosuppressive treatment during the course of lupus nephritis.

Efficacy of multidrug therapy combined with mizoribine in children with diffuse IgA nephropathy in comparison with multidrug therapy without mizoribine and with methylprednisolone pulse therapy.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of prednisolone, warfarin, and dipyridamole therapy combined with mizoribine (PWDM) in the treatment of diffuse immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy in comparison with prednisolone, warfarin, and dipyridamole therapy without mizoribine (PWD) and with methylprednisolone pulse therapy (PWD pulse).

Methods: We collected data on 61 patients diagnosed with diffuse IgA nephropathy, and these patients were retrospectively divided into three groups without randomization. Group A included 21 patients before 1987 who were treated with PWD for 24 months, group B included 20 patients from 1987 to 1989 who were treated with PWD pulse therapy for 24 months, and group C included 20 patients after 1990 who were treated with PWDM for 24 months.

Mizoribine oral pulse therapy for steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome.

There have been reports of the use of mizoribine (MZB) oral pulse therapy for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. We report its efficacy in a 9-year-old girl with steroid- and cyclosporine-dependent nephrotic syndrome (NS). The patient experienced relapses of NS when prednisolone was tapered to 20 mg/day after discontinuing cyclosporine due to biopsy proven toxicity.

Axial radiographic evaluation in hallux valgus: evaluation of the transverse arch in the forefoot.

To quantitatively evaluate the shape of the transverse arch in the forefoot with hallux valgus, a method for axial imaging and analysis of the forefoot has been developed. A foot was imaged at 30 degrees of flexion. A two-dimensional coordinate system was established by drawing a vertical line on the X-ray image through the lowest point of the head of the second metatarsal.

[The problems of multiple-chemical sensitivity patients in using medicinal drugs].

Multiple-chemical sensitivity (MCS) patients are presumed to be compelled to lead inconvenient and difficult lives, because unpleasant and multiorgan symptoms are caused by very small amounts of various chemicals in the living environment. Therefore we conducted a questionnaire survey of MCS patients who are members of support groups to elucidate the problems of MCS patients in using medicinal drugs. In this report, we selected 205 persons who stated that they had been "diagnosed with MCS by a physician" or "a physician suspected a diagnosis of MCS" on the questionnaire as the reason they judged themselves to have MCS.

FB21, a monoclonal antibody that reacts with a sialic-acid-dependent carbohydrate epitope, is a marker for glomerular endothelial cell injury.

Background: FB21 is reactive with glomerular endothelial cells and distal tubules of the human kidney and is bound to a sialic-acid-dependent cell-surface antigen. We evaluated FB21 staining in fetal kidneys and kidneys of children and adults with normal kidneys and glomerulonephritis and investigated whether FB21 can be used as a marker for endothelial cell injury.

Methods: This study was performed on 6 children, 10 adults, and 12 fetuses with normal kidneys and 113 patients diagnosed with primary and secondary glomerulonephritis.

Evaluation of T helper-1/-2 balance on the basis of IgG subclasses and serum cytokines in children with glomerulonephritis.

Background: To clarify the mechanism of deposition of immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses in glomerulonephritis in children, we investigated IgG subclasses in glomerular deposits and T helper subtype 1 (T(H)1)/T(H)2 cytokine balance in pediatric patients with glomerulonephritis.

Methods: We enrolled 95 children in whom glomerulonephritis had been diagnosed in our hospital between 1993 and 2000. Patients were divided into 5 groups according to histological diagnosis: 31 patients with lupus nephritis (LN), 22 patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), 7 patients with membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN), 20 patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis, and 20 patients with IgA nephropathy.

Plasmapheresis therapy for rapidly progressive Henoch-Schönlein nephritis.

Six Japanese children with rapidly progressive Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) received multiple drug therapy combined with plasmapheresis (PP). After five courses of PP, multiple drug therapy, including methylprednisolone and urokinase pulse therapy, oral prednisolone, cyclophophamide, dipyridamole, and warfarin was given. At presentation, urine protein excretion and histological indices of the mean activity and chronicity were 245+/-101 mg/m(2) per hour, 6.

Oral disodium cromoglycate and ketotifen for a patient with eosinophilic gastroenteritis, food allergy and protein-losing enteropathy.

We present a case report of a 10 years old boy with protein-losing enteropathy and eosinophilic gastroenteritis who had positive histamine release tests, increased allergen-specific IgE antibodies to some food items, and low levels of total serum protein and albumin. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a number of polyps and diffuse gastritis. Biopsy specimens of the stomach and duodenum showed widespread eosinophilia and neutrophilia.