Incidence and Clinical Significance of Brugada Syndrome Masked by Complete Right Bundle-Branch Block.

Background: Brugada syndrome (BrS)-type electrocardiogram (ECG) is concealed by complete right bundle-branch block (CRBBB) in some cases of BrS. Clinical significance of BrS masked by CRBBB is not well known.

Methods and results: We reviewed an ECG database of 326 BrS patients who had type 1 ECG with or without pilsicainide.

The Eltrombopag antitumor effect on hepatocellular carcinoma.

Currently, sorafenib is the only available chemotherapeutic agent for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but it cannot be used in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) or thrombocytopenia. In these cases, sorafenib is likely effective if given in combination with treatments that increase the number of platelets, such as thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonists. Increasing the platelet count via TPO treatment resulted in reduction of LC.

2-Phenyl-APB-144-Induced Retinal Pigment Epithelium Degeneration and Its Underlying Mechanisms.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of 2-phenyl-APB-144 (APB)-induced retinopathy in a rat model and its underlying mechanisms, with a particular focus on retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration.

Methods: Electroretinograms (ERGs) were evaluated in APB-administered rats. In ARPE-19 cells, cathepsin, and autophagy marker LC3 were analyzed by western blotting or immunohistochemistry.

Altitudes of residential areas affect salt intake in a rural area in Japan: a Shimane CoHRE Study.

There is increasing evidence of an association between residential environments and hypertension. As shown in our previous study, the inconvenience of the locations of residential areas may be one of the factors influencing the blood pressures of inhabitants. Salt intake is one of the likely mediators between inconvenience and hypertension.

Strong expression of polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 3 independently predicts shortened disease-free survival in patients with early stage oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (GalNAc-Ts) family of enzymes regulates the critical initial steps of mucin-type O-glycosylation. Among GalNAc-Ts that may significantly influence cancer biology, thus affecting cell differentiation, adhesion, invasion, and/or metastasis, GalNAc-T3 exhibits a high expression in several human cancers, closely associated with tumor progression and a poor prognosis. However, the expression pattern of GalNAc-T3 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains obscure.

[Hypofibrinogenemia associated with steroid therapy for the patients who developed GVHD after allogeneic stem cell transplantation].

Hypofibrinogenemia (plasma fibrinogen level <150 mg/dl) is occasionally observed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and its etiology is often difficult to determine. We herein report that steroids administered for the treatment of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are associated with the development of hypofibrinogenemia. We retrospectively analyzed the plasma fibrinogen (Fg) levels in 15 consecutive patients who had been administered 1 mg/kg/day (1 mg/kg group) or 2 mg/kg/day (2 mg/kg group) methylprednisolone for the treatment of Grade II to IV acute GVHD.

Dose-adjusted Lenalidomide Combined with Low-dose Dexamethasone Rescues Older Patients with Bortezomib-resistant Multiple Myeloma.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of lenalidomide (Len), with the dose adjusted according to the renal function, plus low-dose dexamethasone (Dex) in older patients with bortezomib (Bor)-resistant multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods: The study included 68 consecutive patients 70 years of age or older diagnosed with MM at our institute and ineligible for high-dose melphalan therapy plus autologous stem cell transplantation. Fifteen older patients with relapsed or refractory MM (RRMM) previously treated with Bor-containing regimens were treated with the combination of Len plus low-dose Dex.

Association Between Geographic Elevation, Bone Status, and Exercise Habits: The Shimane CoHRE Study.

In recent years, there has been growing interest in the association between the residential environment and health. The association between residential environment (i.e.

Increased CD226 Expression on CD8+ T Cells Is Associated with Upregulated Cytokine Production and Endothelial Cell Injury in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by vascular damage and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Because activated and oligoclonally expanded CD8(+) T cells can be detected in peripheral blood and lungs of SSc patients, effector memory CD8(+) T cells may play a critical role for organ involvement in SSc; however, the pathogenic functions of effector memory CD8(+) T cells remain incompletely understood. In this study, we performed DNA microarray analysis of the sort-purified effector memory CD8(+) T cells from SSc patients and healthy controls, and showed that the expression of genes related to immune response and cell adhesion, including CD226 (also known as DNAX accessory molecule-1 [DNAM-1]), was significantly altered.

Clinical characteristics of responders to treatment with tolvaptan in patients with acute decompensated heart failure: Importance of preserved kidney size.

Background: Recent clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of short-term treatment with tolvaptan, an oral vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist, in patients with heart failure. However, the response to tolvaptan varies among patients. The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with response to tolvaptan in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF).

The Tight Adaptation at Pancreatic Anastomosis Without Parenchymal Laceration: An Institutional Experience in Introducing and Modifying the New Procedure.

Background: Among the types of pancreatic anastomosis used after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD), Blumgart type reconstruction has rapidly been distributed for its theoretical reasonableness, including secure tight adaptation of jejunal wall and pancreatic parenchyma without cause of parenchymal laceration. The clinical appropriateness of our modified Blumgart method was demonstrated by comparing to that of Kakita method.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 156 patients underwent elective open PD, reconstructed former 78 patients with the Kakita method, utilizing a full-thickness penetrating suture for tight stump adhesion.

Tight regulation of the unfolded protein sensor Ire1 by its intramolecularly antagonizing subdomain.

Accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) accompanies ER stress and causes the type-I transmembrane protein Ire1 (also known as ERN1) to trigger the unfolded protein response (UPR). When dimerized, the core stress-sensing region (CSSR) of Ire1 directly captures unfolded proteins and forms a high-order oligomer, leading to clustering and activation of Ire1. The CSSR is N-terminally flanked by an intrinsically disordered subdomain, which we previously named Subregion I, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ire1.

Association between coronary artery calcification and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in elderly people.

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is associated with the incidence of congestive heart failure. We evaluated the association between CAC and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in elderly patients without coronary artery disease. Coronary computed tomography was performed in 1,021 consecutive patients >55 years of age who were suspected of having coronary artery disease.

Anti-inflammatory effects of adenosine N1-oxide.

Background: Adenosine is a potent endogenous anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory molecule. Despite its promise, adenosine's extremely short half-life in blood limits its clinical application. Here, we examined adenosine N1-oxide (ANO), which is found in royal jelly.

Chest HRCT findings in acute transformation of adult T-cell lymphoma/leukemia.

Objectives: To assess chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings in patients with acute transformation of adult T cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL).

Methods: We retrospectively identified 72 consecutive patients at our institution with ATLL between October 2000 and March 2014. The cases included acute type (n = 20), lymphoma type (n = 21), smouldering type (n = 24) and chronic type (n = 7).

Y-box binding protein 1 enhances DNA topoisomerase 1 activity and sensitivity to camptothecin via direct interaction.

Background: The Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1) possesses pleiotropic functions through its interactions with various cellular proteins, and its high expression levels make it a potential useful prognostic biomarker for cancer cells. Eukaryotic DNA topoisomerases, such as DNA topoisomerase 1 (TOPO1) and DNA topoisomerase 2 (TOPO2), are the essential DNA metabolism regulators that usually overexpressed in cancer cells, and multiple proteins have been reported to regulate the enzyme activity and the clinical efficacy of their inhibitors. The present study unraveled the interaction of YB-1 with TOPO1, and further investigated the related function and potential mechanisms during the interaction.

A retrospective analysis to estimate target trough concentration of vancomycin for febrile neutropenia in patients with hematological malignancy.

Background: The target trough concentration of vancomycin in patients with febrile neutropenia has not been reported. The aim of this study was to estimate the target trough concentration for febrile neutropenia in patients with hematological malignancy.

Methods: In this retrospective, single-center, observational cohort study, 63 hospitalized patients with hematological malignancy who were treated with vancomycin for febrile neutropenia due to bacteriologically documented or presumptive Gram-positive infections were analyzed.