Publications by authors named "Nomura A"

Rituximab (RTX) has been reported to effectively maintain remission in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). In this multicenter study involving 57 patients who achieved remission after 24 weeks, we evaluated the effectiveness of RTX in maintaining remission in patients with AAV. Patients were divided into three groups based on RTX administration: continuous, induction phase-only, and maintenance phase-only groups.

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Aim: We aimed to clarify the degree and factors associated with low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol treatment target attainment among patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) using the Hokuriku-plus FH registry.

Methods: The Hokuriku-plus FH registry (UMIN000038210) was a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study that enrolled consecutive patients with FH who fulfilled the clinical criteria for FH in Japan from 37 participating hospitals, mostly in the Hokuriku region, from April 2020 to March 2024. This registry collects data on clinical parameters, including lipid levels, physical findings, genetic background, and clinical events.

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Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) is highly expressed in adipocytes. Lipolysis, caused by an elevated adrenergic input, has been suggested to contribute to elevated serum FABP4 levels in patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between the serum FABP4 and efferent sympathetic nerve activity remains poorly understood.

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Objective: To assess the prevalence and outcomes among regimens of glucocorticoid tapering for microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in real-world practice.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the Japan Collaborative Registry of ANCA-associated Vasculitis (J-CANVAS) registry, and evaluated the prevalence of glucocorticoid tapering regimens in the PEXIVAS trial. In patients with newly diagnosed MPA and GPA, we compared outcomes among standard and reduced pace regimens.

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Pulse generation in a spatially extended system is studied numerically. Using an array of coupled excitable oscillators, pulse generation is achieved by introducing a parametric heterogeneity between the two partitions of the array. The profile of the propagating pulses can be regulated using the parameter mismatch between these two partitions.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Lifestyle-related diseases, such as diabetes, stem from poor habits, prompting Japan to introduce specific health checkups and guidance in 2008, though retention and results have been challenging.
  • - This study evaluated the effectiveness of using a smartphone app for nutritional guidance alongside conventional health guidance, involving participants from 2018 to 2020 and measuring changes in cholesterol and body weight over short (3 months) and long (6 months) terms.
  • - Results indicated significant short-term improvements in cholesterol levels and body weight for those using the app, though long-term benefits diminished and retention rates dropped from 92% to 57.8% after 6 months, suggesting that the app can help initially but might struggle to maintain engagement over
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Despite its broad application in in vitro studies, the application of targeted protein degradation (TPD) to animal models faces considerable challenges. Here, we develop inducible and cell-type specific TPD systems in mice using two degron systems: Oryza sativa TIR1 (OsTIR1)-auxin-inducible degron 2 (AID2) and human cereblon (hCRBN)-SALL4 degron (S4D). Efficient degradation of Satb1 protein by these systems recapitulates phenotypes observed in the Satb1-deficient mice.

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Digital therapeutics (DTx) represent an innovative approach to healthcare, leveraging software applications (apps) delivered through digital devices to treat medical conditions. This review focuses on three DTx apps approved in Japan, targeting nicotine dependence, hypertension, and insomnia. CureApp SC, the DTx system for nicotine dependence, comprises a patient smartphone app, an Internet of Things device for exhaled carbon monoxide measurement, and a Web-based physician app.

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Objectives: To investigate the characteristics of outpatients in the pediatric otolaryngology department of a tertiary Japanese hospital before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: In this retrospective study conducted at a tertiary center in Japan, pediatric patients aged 0-15 years who visited the pediatric otolaryngology department between 2017 and 2022 were included. The number of outpatients in the department was compared between before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2017-December 2022) by year, age, sex, and the disease for which the patient was examined.

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We herein report the first Japanese case of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) caused by a specific mutation in APOE (c.500_502delTCC [p.Leu167del]).

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Article Synopsis
  • Tocilizumab (TCZ) is an effective treatment for giant cell arteritis (GCA), but its impact on treatment changes and outcomes following relapses or discontinuations due to adverse events (AEs) is not well studied.
  • In a retrospective study of 62 GCA patients receiving TCZ, 16% experienced relapses, often after dosage adjustments or stopping TCZ; most relapses were manageable with treatment modifications.
  • About 45% of patients experienced AEs, with a small portion discontinuing TCZ; those who used alternative immunosuppressive therapies had better outcomes in managing GCA and avoiding relapses.
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Objective: Eosinophilic otitis media (EOM) is a chronic eosinophilic inflammatory disease linked to bronchial asthma and nasal polyps. EOM is often accompanied by tympanic membrane perforation. Although the primary treatment, steroid therapy, is generally effective, its efficacy may be limited in advanced cases, particularly those involving significant thickening of the middle ear mucosa.

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  • Viral enteric infections, caused by norovirus, rotavirus A, and human adenovirus, significantly impact the gastrointestinal system, highlighting the need for rapid diagnostic tools like the immunochromatographic (IC) test.
  • The IP-Triple I IC test kit was evaluated against known positive stool specimens and showed 100% specificity for detecting NoV, RVA, and HAdV, with varying sensitivity levels of 86.7% for RVA, 70.6% for NoV, and 76.2% for HAdV.
  • The findings confirm that the IP-Triple I IC test kit is effective for quick detection of multiple viral genotypes in stool samples, proving valuable for timely diagnosis during outbreaks.
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Background: (1) The model attributes were classified as: pain assessment, interventions and reassessment.

Background: (2) Greater importance is given to pain assessment and pharmacological interventions.

Background: (3) There was greater variability in the pain care measures prescribed by nurses.

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Purpose: Recurrence and contralateral metachronous inguinal hernia (CMIH) are important postoperative complications in patients with inguinal hernia (IH) who undergo laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (LPEC). This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and causes of recurrence and CMIH after LPEC.

Methods: Among the included patients, 2484 hernias were included in the analysis of recurrence.

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The relation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and adverse outcomes after endovascular therapy (EVT) for patients with lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) remains incompletely understood. From April 2010 to March 2020, 199 consecutive patients who underwent EVT for LEAD were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into three groups based on BMI; underweight < 18.

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  • Efficiently addressing combinatorial optimization problems like Max-Cut is tough due to exponential growth in resource demands with larger problem sizes.
  • This study introduces a method using a spiking neural network (SNN)-based Boltzmann machine (BM) on neuromorphic hardware, featuring innovative algorithms and simulations that show high accuracy for large-scale Max-Cut problems.
  • The method has been validated on a neuromorphic chip with phase change memory, marking a significant step as the first known implementation of using SNNs to tackle the Max-Cut problem effectively.
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Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive condition that frequently leads to right ventricular (RV) remodeling. Aldosterone promotes vascular and RV remodeling. The upregulation of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) stimulates aldosterone synthesis.

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  • The study investigates how trace mineral intake (specifically zinc, copper, and manganese) relates to coronary artery disease (CAD) in individuals with and without dyslipidaemia (DL).
  • Conducted in Shika town, Japan, the research involved 895 middle-aged and older adults after excluding those genetically predisposed to high cholesterol.
  • Findings indicate that low intake of these trace minerals is linked to a higher risk of CAD in individuals with DL, suggesting a potentially significant relationship that needs further research over time.
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Background: Anemia, a common comorbidity in older patients with heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF), is associated with an increased risk of adverse events. This study evaluated the prognostic effects of longitudinal changes in anemia status on clinical outcomes in patients with AF.

Methods And Results: We prospectively evaluated data of 1,388 patients with AF from the Hokuriku-Plus AF Registry (1,010 men; mean [±SD] age 72.

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Background: Supine hypotension syndrome (SHS) has been reported to occur due to compression by a giant tumor such as ovarian tumor. We herein report a case of retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma with SHS treated with laparoscopic resection.

Case Presentation: The patient was an 11-year-old male with right-sided abdominal pain.

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  • Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones that manage shoot branching and trigger germination in harmful root parasitic weeds, posing risks to agriculture.
  • SL agonists like debranones show promise in promoting suicidal germination of these weeds, particularly in crops like rice.
  • The study found that certain debranones, especially those with specific chemical modifications, effectively induce germination in these weeds, outperforming a known SL compound (GR24) in biological assays.
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Rectal prolapse is characterized by a full-thickness intussusception of the rectal wall and is associated with a spectrum of coexisting anatomic abnormalities. We developed the transabdominal levatorplasty technique for laparoscopic rectopexy, inspired by Altemeier's procedure. In this method, following posterior mesorectum dissection, we expose the levator ani muscle just behind the anorectal junction.

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