Causative genetic mutations for antithrombin deficiency and their clinical background among Japanese patients.

We summarize causative genetic mutations for antithrombin (AT) deficiency and their clinical background in Japanese patients. A total of 19 mutations, including seven novel mutations, were identified. We also summarize clinical symptoms of thrombosis, age at onset, family history, and contributing factors for thrombosis, and review the use of prophylactic anticoagulation in pregnant women with heterozygous type II heparin binding site defects (HBS) AT deficiency.

Risk factors contributing to the development of hypocalcemia after zoledronic acid administration in patients with bone metastases of solid tumor.

Zoledronic acid (ZDA) is commonly prescribed to treat and prevent skeletal complications in patients with multiple myeloma or bone metastases. Although hypocalcemia often develops by ZDA, there is little information about the risk factors for hypocalcemia mediated by ZDA. This study was conducted to assess the risk of ZDA-mediated hypocalcemia.

Line bisection and rebisection: the crossover effect of space location.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the bisection test and the severity of behavioral hemineglect and to verify if this test can predict the behavioral hemineglect.

Methods: Thirty stroke patients with left hemiparesis were divided into 4 groups according to the Catherine Bergego Scale, which assessed the behavioral hemineglect: severe unilateral neglect (UN), moderate UN, mild UN, and lack of UN. Eleven healthy subjects served as age-matched control subjects.

Alternative methods to evaluate the protective ability of sunscreen against photo-genotoxicity.

Numerous epidemiological investigations show that sunlight is carcinogenic to humans and that the use of sunscreen may be effective in decreasing the risk of skin cancer. The biological activity of a sunscreen is evaluated by its ability to protect human skin from erythema as represented by a Sun Protection Factor (SPF). We propose that the sunscreen's protective effect against sunlight-induced genotoxicity, including mutation, should also be taken into account.