Empagliflozin cost-effectiveness analysis in Japanese heart failure with mildly reduced and preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor, was shown to be effective in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in the EMPEROR-Preserved trial. The present study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of empagliflozin among Japanese patients with HFpEF.

Methods And Results: A Markov cohort model was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of empagliflozin added to standard of care (SoC) compared with SoC alone in patients with HFpEF from the perspective of the Japanese healthcare system and with a lifetime horizon.

A Qualitative Research Study of Experiences and Perceptions of People Living with Insulin Resistance Syndrome or Lipoatrophic Diabetes in Japan.

Introduction: There are few reports on the experiences and perceptions of people living with the rare diseases of insulin resistance syndrome or lipodystrophy. This study was designed to identify treatment experiences and perceptions of disease-related burdens among affected people, as well as their needs and priorities. We discussed how to meet identified needs and expectations, in addition to the types of therapeutic drugs and support required.

The SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin improves cardiac energy status via mitochondrial ATP production in diabetic mice.

Empagliflozin, a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor developed, has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. Several studies have suggested that empagliflozin improves the cardiac energy state which is a partial cause of its potency. However, the detailed mechanism remains unclear.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of empagliflozin in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in Japan based on the EMPEROR-Reduced trial.

Background: Several studies have reported the cost-effectiveness of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors in heart failure patients; however, their economic implications have not been sufficiently elucidated in Japan.

Methods: A Markov cohort model was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of empagliflozin plus standard of care (SoC) vs. SoC for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in Japan.

Cell surface-expressed Ro52/IgG/HLA-DR complex is targeted by autoantibodies in patients with inflammatory myopathies.

Intracellular proteins are often targeted by autoantibodies in autoimmune diseases; however, the mechanism through which intracellular molecules are targeted remains unknown. We previously found that several intracellular misfolded proteins are transported to the cell surface by HLA class II molecules and are recognized by autoantibodies in some autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid syndrome, and microscopic polyangiitis. Ro52 is an intracellular Fc receptor that is a target antigen for myositis-associated autoantibodies.

Rationale and design of the EMPA-ELDERLY trial: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 52-week clinical trial of the efficacy and safety of the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor empagliflozin in elderly Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: Elderly people (≥65 years) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are becoming increasingly prevalent, notably in Japan. As cardiovascular (CV) risk increases with age and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce CV risk, elderly patients with T2DM are increasingly likely to be prescribed these glucose-lowering drugs. There is controversy surrounding the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on muscle mass, particularly in elderly patients for whom loss of muscle is especially undesirable; however, robust evidence on this important issue is lacking.

Transcriptional intermediary factor 1 (TIF1) and anti-TIF1γ antibody-positive dermatomyositis.

Recently, great advancements have been made towards understanding the mechanisms underlying dermatomyositis (DM). Many novel autoantibodies, such as anti-MDA5, anti-TIF1γ, anti-NXP2, and anti-SAE, have been reported to be involved in DM. DM is now classified based on these myositis-specific autoantibodies.

Female child with hematidrosis of the palm: Case report and published work review.

Hematidrosis is a rare disorder involving spontaneous excretion of sweat contaminated by blood cells. We report the case of a 6-year-old girl with hematidrosis from her palms with no underlying disease or psychotic disorder. Before the onset of this symptom, the patient was given an indoor horizontal exercise bar with which she had been frequently playing.

Facile synthesis and fundamental properties of an N-methylguanidine-bridged nucleic acid (GuNA[NMe]).

An N-methylguanidine-bridged nucleic acid (GuNA[NMe]), a guanidine-bridged nucleic acid (GuNA) bearing a methyl substituent at the bridge, was successfully synthesised and incorporated into oligonucleotides. By employing an acetyl protecting group, GuNA[NMe]-modified oligonucleotides bearing acid-sensitive purine nucleobases were successfully prepared. The obtained GuNA[NMe]-modified oligonucleotides exhibit excellent binding affinity towards the complementary single-stranded RNA and DNA.

Clinical and Immunological Study of 30 Cases With Both IgG and IgA Anti-Keratinocyte Cell Surface Autoantibodies Toward the Definition of Intercellular IgG/IgA Dermatosis.

Several sporadic cases, in which direct and indirect immunofluorescence studies simultaneously detected IgG and IgA autoantibodies to keratinocyte cell surfaces, have been reported mainly under the name of IgG/IgA pemphigus. However, there have been no systematic studies for this condition. In this study, we collected 30 cases of this condition from our cohort of more than 5,000 autoimmune bullous disease cases, which were consulted for our diagnostic methods from other institutes, and summarized their clinical and immunological findings.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling causes malignant melanoma cells to differentially alter extracellular matrix biosynthesis to promote cell survival.

Background: Intrinsic and acquired resistance to drug therapies remains a challenge for malignant melanoma patients. Intratumoral heterogeneities within the tumor microenvironment contribute additional complexity to the determinants of drug efficacy and acquired resistance.

Methods: We use 3D biomimetic platforms to understand dynamics in extracellular matrix (ECM) biogenesis following pharmaceutical intervention against mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling.