A phase 3, randomized, double-blind, clinical study to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of gefapixant in Japanese adult participants with refractory or unexplained chronic cough.

Background: In two phase 3, global clinical trials (COUGH-1 and COUGH-2), the P2X3-receptor antagonist gefapixant significantly reduced objective 24-h cough frequency in participants with refractory or unexplained chronic cough (RCC or UCC) at a dosage of 45 mg twice daily (BID), with an acceptable safety profile. The primary objective of this phase 3, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study was to assess the safety and tolerability of gefapixant in Japanese participants with RCC or UCC (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03696108; JAPIC-CTI, 184154).

Web-based survey to evaluate the prevalence of chronic and subacute cough and patient characteristics in Japan.

Background: Cough lasting 3-8 weeks and more than 8 weeks are defined as subacute/prolonged cough and chronic cough, respectively. Japanese chronic cough population has not been well studied. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and characteristics of chronic cough and subacute cough patients in Japan.

Disease burden and quality of life of patients with chronic cough in Japan: a population-based cross-sectional survey.

Background: Cough lasting 3-8 and >8 weeks are defined as subacute/prolonged cough and chronic cough (CC), respectively. Studies have revealed that CC negatively impact patients' quality of life (QoL). In Japan, there is limited data on the impact of CC on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI) and healthcare resource utilisation (HRU) using validated instruments.

Current Landscape of Late-Phase Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's Disease: Comparing Regional Variation Between Subjects in Japan and North America.

Introduction: Over the last few decades, numerous late-phase multi-regional clinical trials have been conducted to develop a novel treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD), with no effective results.

Objective: To inform the design and interpretation of future clinical trials, the aim of this study was first to examine the current landscape of late-phase clinical trials to determine key study design characteristics, and then assess the regional variation between Japan and North America for the most utilized clinical efficacy endpoint in the most targeted stage of the disease.

Methods: The study design and the mechanism of action of the interventional drugs tested in the late-phase clinical trials initiated in the last 5 years (2014-2018) were assessed based on the records in ClinicalTrials.

Biphenyl degradation by recombinant photosynthetic cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 in an oligotrophic environment using unphysiological electron transfer.

Cyanobacteria are potentially useful photosynthetic microorganisms for bioremediation under oligotrophic environments. Here, the biphenyl degradation pathway genes of β-proteobacterium Acidovorax sp. strain KKS102 were co-expressed in cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp.

[MTF Measurement of MR Blurring in Liver Dynamic MRI with Gd-EOB-DTPA].

During the arterial phase acquisition of Gd-EOB-DTPA examinations, use of a small volume of the Gd-EOB-DTPA may make it difficult the encoding center of the k-space, and produce blurring. The previous studies revealed the encoding technique of the k-space was one of the most important reasons. However, there is no report to discuss the reasons with quantitative evaluations.

Adjunctive preladenant: A placebo-controlled, dose-finding study in Japanese patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Preladenant, an adenosine 2A antagonist, reduced daily OFF time when administered as adjunctive treatment in a previous phase 2 trial in non-Japanese Parkinson's disease (PD) patients on stable doses of levodopa. This study aimed to evaluate preladenant as adjunctive therapy in Japanese patients with PD.

Methods: In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 12-week, dose-ranging, phase 2 study, Japanese patients with moderate to severe PD on a stable regimen of levodopa were randomly assigned 1:1:1:1 to preladenant 2 mg, 5 mg, or 10 mg BID or placebo.

Orthostatic response of cephalic blood flow using a mini laser Doppler blood flowmeter and hemodynamics of a new active standing test.

Purpose: Cephalic hemodynamic assessment is important in initial orthostatic hypotension. We sought to investigate cephalic blood flow (CBF) in the earlobe using a mini laser Doppler flowmeter (LDF) during orthostatic challenge. In addition, we clarified hemodynamic differences during a new active standing protocol using a footstool standing test (FST) with bending of the legs on the footstool in the sitting position to reduce the load of the squatting posture in the conventional squat standing test (SST).

Purtscher's retinopathy followed by neovascular glaucoma.

We report the case of a 66-year-old Japanese man who developed neovascular glaucoma secondary to Purtscher's retinopathy following a head injury. The patient presented at our hospital with blurred vision and a visual field abnormality in his left eye 1 month after suffering from a head injury. Upon initial presentation, his best-corrected visual acuity on a decimal chart was 1.

Efficacy and safety of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor anacetrapib in Japanese patients with dyslipidemia.

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of anacetrapib (ANA) on lipids and safety when administered as monotherapy or in combination with atorvastatin (ATV) in Japanese patients with dyslipidemia.

Methods: Patients (n = 407) were randomized equally to 1 of 10 groups: placebo, ATV 10 mg, ANA 10, 40, 100, or 300 mg once daily, and the same ANA doses in combination with ATV 10 mg. Patients were treated with study medication for 8 weeks and followed for an additional 8 weeks, during which ANA was switched to placebo.

Quantitative evaluation of iris convexity in primary angle closure.

Purpose: In eyes with primary angle closure (PAC), we quantitatively evaluated anterior bowing of the iris by means of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM).

Design: Retrospective, observational, and consecutive case series.

Methods: A total of 203 phakic eyes with PAC that had not undergone any surgical or laser treatment were included.

Fellow eye of patients with retinal detachment associated with macular hole and bilateral high myopia.

Purpose: To estimate the risk of retinal detachment in the fellow eye of patients with bilateral high myopia who had retinal detachment associated with macular hole (MH-RD) in one eye.

Methods: The present study examined retrospectively 56 patients with bilateral high myopia who had MH-RD. To determine the incidence of involvement of the fellow eye, patients who completed a follow up of 12 months or longer were eligible for the current study.

Methanol-induced retinal toxicity patient examined by optical coherence tomography.

Background: Methanol is a highly toxic substance used as an industrial solvent and automotive antifreeze. Human consumption of methanol may result in severe visual disturbances. Because optical coherence tomography (OCT) is very useful for evaluating retinal edema and nerve fiber swelling, we used OCT to examine a patient with methanol-induced retinal toxicity.

Visual field defect after radial optic neurotomy for central retinal vein occlusion.

Purpose: To evaluate visual field defects after radial optic neurotomy (RON) in eyes with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Methods: Eight patients (eight eyes) underwent RON for macular edema associated with CRVO. Goldmann perimetry was performed on each patient both before and after surgery.

Angle widening and alteration of ciliary process configuration after cataract surgery for primary angle closure.

Purpose: To evaluate quantitatively, by means of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), changes in the anterior segment configuration, including the ciliary processes, induced by cataract surgery in eyes with primary angle closure.

Design: Retrospective interventional case series.

Participants: Thirty-one eyes of 31 patients with primary angle closure or primary angle-closure glaucoma were treated with cataract surgery.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel reagent containing dansyl group, which specifically alkylates sulfhydryl group: an example of application for protein chemistry.

We have synthesized a novel reagent containing dansyl group, iodoacethyl dansylcadaverine (IADC), which specifically alkylates sulfhydryl groups. The carboxyl group of iodoacetic acid was activated with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and was condensed with amino group of dansylcadaverine. Purity and chemical structure of IADC was confirmed with mass spectrometry (MS) and NMR.

Cataract surgery for residual angle closure after peripheral laser iridotomy.

Purpose: To investigate the frequency of residual angle closure after resolution of pupillary blocking by laser peripheral iridotomy and the effects of subsequent cataract surgery to resolve angle closure completely.

Design: Retrospective, consecutive, interventional study.

Participants: Among 70 eyes treated with laser iridotomy, 13 with residual angle closure were treated with cataract surgery.

[Natural killer-cell lymphoma of the iris with a normal fundus].

Background: Intraocular lymphoma is a relatively uncommon malignancy, rarely presenting with exclusively anterior segment findings in a normal fundus.

Case: A 38-year-old male, previously diagnosed with nasal lymphoma, currently in complete remission after chemotherapy and radiotherapy, presented with blurring of vision in his left eye, which initially responded to local steroid therapy. However, the patient developed resistance to steroid therapy and developed nodular masses in the left iris.

A novel function of tissue-type transglutaminase: protein disulphide isomerase.

We have found that tissue-type transglutaminase (tTG), also called TGc, TGase2 and Galpha(h), has the activity of protein disulphide isomerase (PDI). We have shown that tTG converts completely reduced/denatured inactive RNase A molecule to the native active enzyme. The PDI activity of tTG was strongly inhibited by bacitracin, which is a frequently used inhibitor of conventional PDI activity.

New insight into the functional role of acetylcholine in developing embryonic rat retinal neurons.

Purpose: To examine the effects of acetylcholine (ACh) on glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in embryonic rat retinal neurons.

Methods: Primary cultures were obtained from rat retinas at embryonic days 17 to 19. Cultured cells were exposed to glutamate for 10 minutes, followed by incubation in glutamate-free medium for 1 hour.