Publications by authors named "Norihiko Takeda"
Study Objectives: Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is potentially linked to life-threatening conditions. Decline in kidney function is involved in the development of various diseases; however, it remains unclear whether it is implicated in the onset of SAS. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between kidney function and the incidence of SAS.
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- Progressive systemic right ventricle (sRV) dysfunction poses treatment challenges in adult congenital heart disease, with current guidelines lacking specific heart failure medication recommendations for sRV.
- A study of 17 adult patients on ACE-I/ARB analyzed the impact of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) on sRV ejection fraction (sRVEF) deterioration over an average of 68.7 months, finding that mild TR was linked to improvements in sRVEF.
- The findings suggest that assessing TR severity may help predict outcomes for sRV patients on ACE-I/ARB, highlighting the need for further research through randomized controlled trials focusing on TR in these patients.
Embryo implantation is crucial for successful pregnancy, requiring appropriate uterine responses to implantation-competent blastocysts. Molecular communication at the maternal-fetal junction governs this process. Leukemia inhibitory factor (Lif) plays a pivotal role in implantation across species.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA hallmark feature of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is massive intratumoral fibrosis, designated as desmoplasia. Desmoplasia is characterized by the expansion of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and a massive increase in extracellular matrix (ECM). During fibrogenesis, distinct genes become reactivated specifically in fibroblasts, e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: The benefits of early rehabilitation for patients with acute heart failure (HF) requiring IV inotropic drugs have yet to be determined. We investigated the association between early rehabilitation and short-term clinical outcomes in patients with acute HF requiring IV inotropic drugs.
Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Aim: It remains unknown whether sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) could be associated with incident cancer.
Methods: We analyzed individuals having diabetes and newly prescribed SGLT2i or dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i) in a large-scale epidemiological database. The primary outcome was the incidence of cancer.
Article Synopsis
- Skeletal muscle atrophy, often caused by muscle disuse, significantly affects quality of life, particularly in older adults and those with chronic illnesses, highlighting the need for understanding its molecular mechanisms for better treatment options.
- The study investigated the roles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and specific microRNAs (miRNAs) in muscle atrophy using a denervation model in mice, analyzing gene expression changes and regulatory networks.
- Findings showed that denervation led to reduced muscle weight and altered gene expression, with VEGF and certain miRNAs being key regulatory factors, suggesting they may be promising targets for therapies aimed at combating muscle atrophy.
Article Synopsis
- Embryo implantation is essential for a healthy pregnancy and is influenced by changes in gene expression and metabolism in the uterus, which respond to hormones and embryo signals.
- Researchers used spatial transcriptomic analysis to identify that lipid metabolism, particularly pathways related to arachidonic acid, is important in the uterus during implantation.
- The study found that the COX2 enzyme plays a crucial role in successful implantation, while the absence of COX1 or COX2 leads to impaired pregnancy or infertility, highlighting the distinct functions of each enzyme in this process.*
Background: Approximately 10% of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients have left ventricular systolic dysfunction (end-stage HCM) leading to severe heart-failure; however, risk stratification to identify patients at risk of progressing to end-stage HCM remains insufficient.
Objectives: In this study, the authors sought to elucidate whether the coexistence of other cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related variants is associated with progression to end-stage HCM in patients with HCM harboring pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) sarcomeric variants.
Methods: The authors performed genetic analysis of 83 CVD-related genes in HCM patients from a Japanese multicenter cohort.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines how declining estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is linked to an increased risk of depression in a large population, particularly focusing on kidney dysfunction stages.
- Analyzing data from over 1.5 million individuals without prior depression history, researchers found that a drop in eGFR heightens depression risk, especially as eGFR falls below 65 mL/min/1.73 m.
- Results indicate that as kidney function declines, the likelihood of developing depression rises significantly, emphasizing the need for mental health evaluations in patients with kidney issues.
Article Synopsis
- - Nonsyndromic hereditary thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) is an autosomal dominant condition often challenging to link to specific genes.
- - A study presented a case of a 33-year-old Japanese male with Stanford type A TAAD and severe aortic regurgitation, lacking any family history or signs of connective tissue disorders.
- - Genetic testing revealed potentially harmful variants in two genes, and the analysis suggested that these variants could aid in understanding the disease and improving treatment strategies for hereditary TAAD cases.
Key Clinical Message: Genetic variants associated with hereditary TAAD may contribute to nonsyndromic TAAD. We present the case of a 72-year-old man with nonsyndromic TAAD undergoing prophylactic surgery after a gene panel test revealed a pathogenic variant in , but the indication for genetic testing in such elderly-onset cases still warrants further discussion.
Abstract: Hereditary thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) is a clinical condition resulting in a fatal outcome.
Mesothelial and epicardial cells give rise to various types of mesenchymal cells via epithelial (mesothelial)-to-mesenchymal transition during development. However, the genes controlling the differentiation and diversification of mesothelial/epicardial cells remain unclear. Here, we examined Wnt2b expression in the embryonic mesothelium and epicardium and performed lineage tracing of Wnt2b-expressing cells by using novel Wnt2b-2A-CreERT2 knock-in and LacZ-reporter mice.
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- Hypertension and cancer both increase with age, leading to the emergence of the concept "Onco-Hypertension," which focuses on the interconnected risks of these conditions in older patients.
- Hypertension can contribute to the development of certain cancers, and cancer survivors are more likely to develop hypertension and face cardiovascular issues in the future.
- The review discusses the current understanding and future directions of "Onco-Hypertension," along with the authors’ research findings on this topic.
Aim: To investigate the clinical significance of body weight changes on kidney outcomes among individuals with diabetes using sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.
Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study using a nationwide epidemiological database, and we conducted an analysis involving 11 569 individuals with diabetes who were newly prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors. The main outcome was the rate of decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), determined through a linear mixed-effects model with an unstructured covariance structure.
Article Synopsis
- Individuals with diabetes have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), and this study aimed to understand how modifiable risk factors relate to CVD based on diabetes status.
- The analysis involved over 4 million individuals, revealing that while obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia had a weaker association with CVD in those with diabetes, risky behaviors like poor diet, smoking, and inactivity had a stronger impact.
- The findings indicate that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is especially crucial for people with diabetes to reduce their risk of CVD, as lifestyle-related factors significantly increase their risk compared to those without diabetes.
Article Synopsis
- - Macrophages are vital for maintaining specific functions and balance in the adrenal gland, particularly in regulating aldosterone production through their interactions with blood vessels.
- - The study reveals that the absence of the molecule VEGF-A in macrophages leads to changes in blood vessel structure, resulting in increased aldosterone secretion and associated health issues like high blood pressure.
- - Findings suggest that the communication between macrophages and endothelial cells is crucial for adrenal health and could have significant implications for understanding similar processes in other endocrine organs.
Rationale & Objective: Little is known regarding the association between chronic tonsillitis and the onset of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). In the present study, we examined the potential relationship between chronic tonsillitis and a subsequent risk of developing IgAN.
Study Design: Observational cohort study.
Article Synopsis
- Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) play a crucial role in how the gut adapts to low oxygen levels, particularly under conditions like inflammation and colitis.
- The HIF-1α subunit is important for defining the ILC phenotype during acute colitis, but its effects on these cells during chronic conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, are still unclear.
- In mice lacking HIF-1α in NKp46+ ILCs during chronic colitis, researchers noted fewer ILC1s but more neutrophils and macrophages, suggesting HIF-1α helps regulate inflammation and prevents damage like fibrosis in the intestines.
Article Synopsis
- * A survey conducted across 151 pediatric cardiology departments in Japan found that only 19% offered transition programs for childhood-onset cardiomyopathy (CM), despite 92% of facilities acknowledging the need for such programs.
- * The study highlights that transfer rates for childhood-onset CM are significantly lower than for congenital heart disease (CHD), suggesting that adopting CHD care systems could improve the transitional care for CM patients.