Prediction of bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy with the R-R interval variation of the electrocardiogram in plasma cell myeloma: a retrospective study.

Bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN) is a key dose-limiting toxicity in patients with plasma cell myeloma (PCM). This study examined 56 patients with PCM treated with bortezomib to determine the possible predisposing factors to BIPN with the R-R interval variation (RRIV) of the electrocardiogram (ECG). Of all, 17 patients developed Clinically obvious BIPN, grades 2-4 or grade worsening from the baseline neuropathy per the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (v5.

Infiltration of effector regulatory T cells predicts poor prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) specifically express the transcription factor forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) and contribute to tumor progression. FOXP3-positive cells have been recently proven to be heterogeneous in phenotype and function, including effector Tregs (eTregs), naïve Tregs, and non-Tregs, which harbor no suppressive function. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the "true Treg (eTreg)" population, rather than the entire FOXP3 population, with regards to their effect on tumor immunity.

A seroepidemiological survey of the effect of hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B and C virus infections among elementary school students in Siem Reap province, Cambodia.

Aim: This study aimed to survey the prevalence and incidence of hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among elementary school students in Siem Reap province, Cambodia and to evaluate the effects of a national infant HBV vaccination program introduced in 2001.

Methods: Students in 3rd grade during the 2011, 2012, and 2013 academic years were enrolled in this study; at the time of the second examination, in the 2014-2015 academic year, the students were in 5th or 6th grade. The incidence and prevalence rates of HBV and HCV infection were estimated and full HBV sequences were analyzed.

Transforming growth factor β- and interleukin 13-producing mast cells are associated with fibrosis in bone marrow.

Although bone marrow fibrosis is a lethal condition, its underlying mechanism is not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the pathogenesis of fibrosis in the bone marrow through histologic examination of mast cell infiltration and the expression of fibrosis-associated cytokines. We analyzed 22 bone marrows with fibrosis (8 primary myelofibrosis [PMF], 5 post-essential thrombocythemia [ET], myelofibrosis, and 9 myelodysplastic syndrome [MDS] with bone marrow fibrosis [BMF]).

Development of a Fully-automated On-line Oxidation Column-switching HPLC System for the Determination of Endogenous Melatonin in Human Clinical Samples.

A fully-automated on-line oxidation column-switching HPLC system has been developed for the determination of endogenous melatonin in human plasma and saliva. This HPLC system consists of four processes. In the first step, melatonin is fractionated using a reversed-phase C4 column (Proteonavi, 75 mm × 1.

Hepatitis E Virus in Cambodia: Prevalence among the General Population and Complete Genome Sequence of Genotype 4.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a growing public health problem in many countries. In this study, we investigated HEV seroprevalence among the general population in the Siem Reap province, Cambodia, and performed HEV genetic analysis with the aim to develop an HEV prevention strategy. This seroepidemiological cross-sectional study conducted from 2010 to 2014 included 868 participants from four different locations in Siem Reap province, Cambodia.

Seroprevalence, genotypic distribution and potential risk factors of hepatitis B and C virus infections among adults in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Aim: We investigated hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among adults in Siem Reap, Cambodia, to consider the prevention strategy in cooperation with the Ministry of Health in Cambodia.

Methods: Serological tests for determining HBV and HCV infections and questionnaires were performed from 2010 to 2012 among the general population in the province of Siem Reap. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to clarify the factors related to HBV and HCV infections.

High prevalences of hepatitis B and C virus infections among adults living in Binh Thuan province, Vietnam.

Aim: Vietnam is one of the countries with the highest mortality from liver cancer, which is mostly attributed to hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. For planning preventive strategies against these infections, we investigated prevalences of HBV and HCV infections among adults living in Binh Thuan, Vietnam.

Methods: Our study consisted of a serological survey for HBV and HCV infections and a questionnaire survey on their risk factors.

Validation and limitation of age-period-cohort model in simulating mortality due to hepatocellular carcinoma from 1940 to 2010 in Japan.

Aim: We aimed to simulate the mortality due to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by the age-period-cohort (APC) model with use of sex- and age-specific mortality data, for the purpose of validating the utility and assessing the limitation of this model.

Methods: Age-specific mortality due to HCC was gleaned from people aged 20-84 years during 1940 through 2010 in Japan.

Results: The APC model had a high performance in reproducing HCC mortality (modified determination coefficient R(2) COR  ≥ 0.

Pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia.

Functional dyspepsia is a highly prevalent and heterogeneous disorder. Functional dyspepsia involves many pathogenic factors, such as gastric motility disorders, visceral hypersensitivity, psychological factors, Helicobacter pylori infection, and excessive gastric acid secretion. The present article provides an overview of pathogenetic factors and pathophysiologic mechanisms.

Hypolipidemic effect of Shoyu polysaccharides from soy sauce in animals and humans.

Soy sauce (Shoyu) is a traditional Japanese fermented seasoning and is available worldwide. We investigated the effects of Shoyu polysaccharides (SPS) prepared from soy sauce on hyperlipidemia in vitro and in vivo. First, SPS inhibited pancreatic lipase.

Stimulatory effect of Shoyu polysaccharides from soy sauce on the intestinal immune system.

Soy sauce (Shoyu) is a traditional Japanese fermented seasoning and is available worldwide. We investigated the effect of Shoyu polysaccharides (SPS) prepared from soy sauce on the intestinal immune system of mice. SPS enhanced the production of immunoglobulin A (IgA) from Peyer's patch cells in vitro, and its oral administration to 7-week-old male BALB/c mice for 2 weeks at a dose of 1.

Treatment efficacy of neural blockade in specialized palliative care services in Japan: a multicenter audit survey.

More than 85% of cancer-related pain is pharmacologically controllable, but some patients require interventional treatments. Although audit assessment of these interventions is of importance to clarify the types of patients likely to receive benefits, there have been no multicenter studies in Japan. The primary aims of this study were (1) to clarify the frequency of neural blockade in certified palliative care units and palliative care teams, (2) determine the efficacy of interventions, and (3) explore the predictors of successful or unsuccessful intervention.

[Cesarean section in a patient with severe mitral stenosis after mitral valve replacement].

A 30-year-old woman with mitral stenosis after mitral valve replacement was scheduled for cesarean section at 28 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy. Cesarian section was decided at a conference of obstetrics, cardiac surgery, neonatology and anesthesiology. Anesthesia was successfully managed with epidural block and pulmonary arterial pressure monitoring.