Publications by authors named "Masaru Kato"

Article Synopsis
  • - Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory disorder marked by muscle pain and stiffness, mainly affecting the hip and shoulder areas, with high levels of CRP and ESR, but its exact causes are still unclear.
  • - The report discusses three PMR patients who didn't respond well to standard treatments, presenting common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness, and elevated CRP levels without increased creatine kinase.
  • - Examination of muscle samples from these patients revealed signs of vasculitis, suggesting that muscular limited vasculitis (MLV) could be a potential underlying issue in these difficult-to-treat PMR cases.
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Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a valuable biomarker for the early detection of genetic diseases and for evaluating treatment efficacy. We developed a rapid and cost-effective purification method for urinary cfDNA using a commercially available DNA purification kit. This method enables the rapid purification (< 20 min) of DNA suitable for use in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using only a centrifuge and a heater.

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Background: The Apple Watch (AW) can record single-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) and has been investigated for arrhythmia detection. In this study we evaluated its accuracy in identifying the origin of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) vs. standard 12-lead ECGs.

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The electrocatalytic activity of PtNi nanowires is enhanced by the co-presence of ionic liquid in carbon mesopores. Three-dimensional transmission electron microscopy tomography and surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy confirm the co-presence of PtNi nanowires and ionic liquid inside carbon mesopores even under electrochemical conditions.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The hypoechoic halo is a common ultrasound finding in giant cell arteritis (GCA), but it can sometimes be misinterpreted due to arteriosclerosis.
  • - Researchers investigated the specific distribution of GCA lesions and introduced the "string of beads sign" to assess luminal irregularities in long-axis images.
  • - The study found that combining the string of beads sign with the hypoechoic halo improved diagnostic accuracy for GCA, showing a C-statistic of 1.00 compared to 0.89 for the halo alone.
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Maintaining good medication adherence is important for providing desirable outcomes from medication therapy. We showed that therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) contributed to the identification of low medication adherence to cabozantinib in a patient with cancer. We present an educational case to assist with understanding TDM in a patient with cancer.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cabozantinib is effective for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but 60% of patients experience severe side effects requiring dose reductions; this study examines its impact in Japanese patients.
  • Researchers measured cabozantinib trough concentrations in 10 Japanese RCC patients, finding higher concentrations correlated with better cancer control and increased adverse events.
  • Results suggest monitoring cabozantinib levels could enhance treatment effectiveness and reduce serious side effects in Japanese patients with RCC.
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Objectives: Primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity. Although PAPS is distinct from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the two conditions share clinical features and susceptibility genes. Progression from PAPS to SLE is well-recognized.

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Objectives: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is recommended at a target dose of 5 mg/kg per actual body weight to reduce the risk of retinopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the efficacy of HCQ has been established at doses of 6.5 mg/kg per ideal body weight.

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Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) play critical roles in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Itaconate (ITA), an endogenous metabolite derived from the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, has attracted attention because of its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial effects. This study evaluated the effect of ITA on FLS and its potential to treat RA.

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Objectives: We investigated whether our in-house software equipped with partial image phase-only correlation (PIPOC) can detect subtle radiographic joint space narrowing (JSN) progression at six months and predict JSN progression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving Tocilizumab.

Methods: The study included 39 RA patients who were treated with Tocilizumab. Radiological progression of the metacarpophalangeal and the proximal interphalangeal joints was evaluated according to the Genant-modified Sharp score (GSS) at 0, 6, and 12 months.

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Pazopanib is a multi-kinase inhibitor used to treat advanced/metastatic renal cell carcinoma and advanced soft tissue tumors; however, side effects such as diarrhea and hypertension have been reported, and dosage adjustment based on drug concentration in the blood is necessary. However, measuring pazopanib concentrations in blood using the existing methods is time-consuming; and current dosage adjustments are made using the results of blood samples taken at the patient's previous hospital visit (approximately a month prior). If the concentration of pazopanib could be measured during the waiting period for a doctor's examination at the hospital (in approximately 30 min), the dosage could be adjusted according to the patient's condition on that day.

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Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of two different intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) pulse doses in patients with severe microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA).

Methods: We emulated a target trial using observational data from the nationwide registry in Japan. Patients with severe glomerulonephritis or diffuse alveolar haemorrhage were selected and pseudo-randomized into three groups using propensity score-based overlap weighting as follows: non-IVMP, IVMP 0.

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Tachycardia induces a reduction in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), which is defined as tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TIC). Conversion to and maintenance of sinus rhythm by catheter ablation can improve LVEF in patients with TIC due to atrial fibrillation (AF). Beta-blockers are mandatory for the treatment of heart failure with reduced LVEF(HFrEF), but the necessity of beta-blockers in TIC patients even after catheter ablation remains unclear.

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Background: Based on historical studies of leadless pacemakers (LPs), high atrioventricular synchrony (AVS) with mechanical sensing-based VDD pacing is largely influenced by A4 amplitude. A limited study investigated the predictors of A4 amplitude using clinical and echocardiographic parameters.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of A4 amplitude preoperatively to select patients who could benefit the most from AVS among patients with VDD LPs (Micra-AV, Medtronic).

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Objectives: To identify the optimal dose of intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCY) for induction therapy for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Methods: We retrospectively assessed patients with antibody-associated vasculitis who received IVCY every 2-3 weeks during the remission induction phase. The associations of the IVCY dose with infection-free survival and relapse-free survival were analysed using a Cox regression model.

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Objectives: Pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with systemic sclerosis (PAH-SSc) sometimes accompanies pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD). We aimed to reveal the relationship between clinical signs of PVOD and severity of pulmonary vasculopathy in SSc.

Methods: This study included 52 consecutive SSc patients who had pulmonary haemodynamic abnormalities [mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) >20 mmHg, pulmonary vascular resistance >2 WU or pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) >15 mmHg].

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COVID-19 is primarily known for its respiratory tract involvement, often leading to severe pneumonia and exacerbation of underlying diseases. However, emerging evidence suggests that COVID-19 can result in multiorgan failure, affecting organs beyond the respiratory system. We present the case of a 62-year-old male with COVID-19 who developed acute liver failure (ALF) and rhabdomyolysis in the absence of respiratory failure.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to examine how seasonal and environmental factors affect the onset of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) in patients with specific types of vasculitis.
  • Researchers analyzed data from 454 patients to determine any season-related patterns in AAV onset, finding that AAV was less common in autumn compared to other seasons, and certain ANCA types (like MPO-ANCA) showed significant seasonal variation.
  • Additionally, the study revealed that living in rural areas was linked to PR3-ANCA positivity and related lung issues, indicating that rural residency impacts AAV development independently of seasonal triggers.
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Aberrant functional connectivity (FC) of the brain regions, evaluated by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), affects clinical courses in inflammatory arthritis (IA). The static analysis methods would be simplistic to estimate the whole picture of resting-state brain function because blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals fluctuate over time. The effects of FC dynamics on clinical course are unknown in IA.

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Background: Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) and pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH) are rare types of pulmonary arterial hypertension with dismal prognoses; there is no established medical treatment for these conditions. Possible efficacy of imatinib against these conditions has been reported in 15 cases; however, how and in whom imatinib is effective remain unknown.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated clinical data from consecutive patients with PVOD/PCH treated with imatinib at our institution.

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Objectives: To investigate the association between decreased serum IgG levels caused by remission-induction immunosuppressive therapy of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) and the development of severe infections.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with new-onset or severe relapsing AAV enrolled in the J-CANVAS registry, which was established at 24 referral sites in Japan. The minimum serum IgG levels up to 24 weeks and the incidence of severe infection up to 48 weeks after treatment initiation were evaluated.

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