Glomerular diameter is associated with a reduction in urinary protein by treatment with dapagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Several clinical trials showed that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have protective effects against chronic kidney disease (CKD) in both patients with and those without type 2 diabetes mellitus. Since one of the renoprotective mechanisms of SGLT2 inhibitors is thought to be amelioration of glomerular hyperfiltration, we hypothesized that an enlarged glomerular diameter, which suggests increased single-nephron glomerular filtration rate, is associated with a reduction in urinary protein after treatment with an SGLT2 inhibitor.

Methods: This study was a retrospective multicentered study including 28 adult patients with CKD who underwent kidney biopsy and were then treated with dapagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor.

Autistic symptoms and clinical features of individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis and first-episode psychosis.

Introduction: Autistic symptoms in schizophrenia are reportedly associated with cognitive and social functions. However, few studies have investigated the association between autistic symptoms and clinical features in individuals with a clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) and first-episode psychosis (FEP). We aimed to determine the association between autistic symptoms and clinical features in a cohort of individuals with CHR-P or FEP.

Effect of Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide 1B1 on Plasma Concentration Dynamics of Clozapine in Patients with Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia.

The involvement of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters in plasma clozapine (CLZ) dynamics has not been well examined in Japanese patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). Therefore, this clinical study investigated the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of various pharmacokinetic factors (drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters) and dynamic changes in CLZ. Additionally, we aimed to determine whether CLZ acts as a substrate for pharmacokinetic factors using in vitro assays and molecular docking calculations.

Relationship Between Clozapine-Induced Inflammation and Eosinophilia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background And Hypothesis: Eosinophilia has not been highlighted in clozapine-induced adverse inflammatory events, as it is often asymptomatic and self-limiting, while drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome occurs rarely. This study aimed to reveal the temporal relationships between eosinophilia and other inflammatory events during clozapine initiation.

Study Design: The temporal relationships between eosinophilia and other inflammatory events were evaluated among 241 patients with schizophrenia treated with clozapine for the first time at 7 hospitals.

Development of medical knowledge content for problem-solving competencies through dialogue with the undergraduate medical education community in Japan.

Background: Discrepancies existed between the medical knowledge sections of the Model Core Curriculum for Medical Education (MCC) and the Guidelines for the National Examination for Medical Practitioners (GNEMP) in Japan. These discrepancies have been one of the underlying factors hindering the development of learner-centered medical education in the country. The project team responsible for the 'Problem-Solving' section of the MCC aimed to address discrepancies between the disease lists in the MCC and the GNEMP.

Determination of optimal cutoff value of ulcerative colitis intestinal ultrasound index to estimate endoscopic improvement in ulcerative colitis.

Background: The ulcerative colitis intestinal ultrasound (UC-IUS) index (UII) has been reported as a sonographic scoring system correlating with the Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES). Endoscopic improvement (EI) of UC (MES ≤ 1) is a crucial therapeutic target in clinical practice. However, the cutoff value for estimating EI using the UII has not been established.

Self-Powered Dye-Sensitized Solar-Cell-Based Synaptic Devices for Multi-Scale Time-Series Data Processing in Physical Reservoir Computing.

Physical reservoir computing (PRC) using synaptic devices has attracted attention as a promising edge artificial intelligence device. To handle time-series data on various time scales, it is necessary to fabricate devices with the desired time scale. In this study, we fabricated a dye-sensitized solar-cell-based synaptic device with controllable time constants by changing the light intensity.

Using qPCR and ddPCR to study biodistribution of cell therapy products: a multi-site evaluation.

Backgroud Aims: Regenerative therapies employing cell therapy products (CTPs) have attracted considerable attention. Biodistribution (BD) evaluation of CTPs is mainly performed to clarify the cell survival time, engraftment, and distribution site. This evaluation is crucial for predicting the efficacy and safety profiles of clinical studies based on non-clinical BD study outcomes.

Ruptured solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura with hemothorax: a case report.

Background: The majority of the patients with a solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) of the pleura are asymptomatic, and rupture of an SFT with hemothorax is rare.

Case Presentation: A 48-year-old man was taken by ambulance to our hospital because of sudden onset of left chest pain. Two months before the referral, a tumor was detected in the left upper lobe of the lung by screening computed tomography at another hospital, and further observation was recommended, because the tumor was suspected to be benign.

Skin health survey on atopic dermatitis among Japanese children: The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

Background: Precise skin phenotypic data are indispensable in accurately diagnosing atopic dermatitis (AD). Therefore, this study examined the interobserver concordance for AD and non-AD diagnoses between two dermatologists. AD prevalence determined by the self-reported physician diagnoses and the diagnoses determined from the United Kingdom (UK) diagnostic criteria were compared with the diagnoses made by the two dermatologists, using data from a skin health survey.

Elevation and adhesion properties of injectable hydrogels based on catechol/boronic acid-modified Alaska pollock gelatin for endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Elevation of early-stage gastrointestinal cancer using submucosal injection materials (SIMs) and postoperative wound care with adhesive materials are crucial for preventing complications arising from endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Several types of SIMs have been developed; however, they often provide insufficient tissue elevation and fail to adequately adhere to the defect following the removal of early-stage gastrointestinal cancer. In this study, we present the development of injectable Cat-PBA-ApGltn hydrogels, which are based on catechol group-modified Alaska pollock gelatin (Cat-ApGltn) and phenylboronic acid-modified Alaska pollock gelatin (PBA-ApGltn), serving as multifunctional SIMs.

Microkinetic Model to Rationalize the Lifetime of Electrocatalysis: Trade-off between Activity and Stability.

Electrocatalysts which can operate for several years are required to produce hydrogen and commodity chemicals in an environmentally friendly manner. However, designing materials with long operational lifetimes is challenging, due to the lack of a conceptual framework to predict catalytic lifetimes quantitatively. Here, we report a microkinetic equation which quantifies the lifetime of an electrocatalyst undergoing dissolution.

Successful Cord Blood Transplantation for Myeloid/Natural Killer Precursor Acute Leukemia: A Case Report and Literature Review.

A 21-year-old man was diagnosed with myeloid/natural killer precursor leukemia (MNKPL) with bone marrow infiltration of blasts of cyCD3, CD7, CD33, CD34, CD56, HLA-DR, cyMPO, and TdT immunophenotypes. Although hyper-CVAD therapy was unsuccessful, induction treatment with idarubicin and cytarabine resulted in complete remission (CR). The patient subsequently underwent cord blood transplantation with a myeloablative conditioning regimen, which resulted in durable CR and complete donor chimerism.

COVID-19 in patients receiving treatment at an outpatient chemotherapy unit.

During the COVID-19 pandemic period, many patients who required outpatient chemotherapy developed COVID-19, requiring chemotherapy interruption. However, there are no clear guidelines regarding the safe timing for restarting chemotherapy. We conducted a retrospective study to assess when such patients can safely recommence chemotherapy.

Early Sonographic Improvement Predicts Clinical Remission and Mucosal Healing With Molecular-Targeted Drugs in Ulcerative Colitis.

Background And Aims: Predicting the efficacy of molecular-targeted drugs (MTDs) is an unmet need in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) can be used to safely and repeatedly assess UC activity.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients who started MTD therapy for active UC and underwent IUS at baseline and 3 months after starting therapy were analyzed.

Comprehensive microRNA analyses using vitreous humor of ocular sarcoidosis.

Purpose: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs which have attracted attention as biomarkers in a variety of diseases. However, extensive unbiased analysis of miRNA in vitreous humor of sarcoidosis patients has not been reported. In the present study, we comprehensively analyzed the dysregulated miRNAs in ocular sarcoidosis to search for potential biomarkers.

Development of a Janus tissue adhesive hemostatic patch based on hydrophobically-modified Alaska pollock gelatin.

Uncontrollable hemorrhage from trauma and open surgery leads to a high percentage of death. Even though some patch-type hemostatic materials have been used in the clinic, sufficient tissue adhesion property and the management of tissue adhesion and anti-adhesion have been the challenges. In this report, we designed Janus tissue adhesive hemostatic patch, consisting of Alaska pollock gelatin (Org-ApGltn) as a support layer and decanoyl group-modified ApGltn (C10-ApGltn) with pentaerythritol poly(ethylene glycol) ether tetrasuccinimidyl glutarate (4S-PEG) as an adhesive layer, named as the C10-ApGltn patch.