Publications by authors named "Ryotaro Nakai"

Implementing a signal-switching mechanism for the selective use of integrated sensors and actuators plays a crucial role in streamlining the functionality of miniaturized devices. Here, a liquid metal droplet (LMD)-based signal-switching mechanism is introduced to achieve such functionality. Pressure modulation with a 100-μm spatial resolution enabled precise control of the position of the LMDs within a channel.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) cell culture systems have facilitated the development of efficient direct-acting antivirals against HCV. Huh-7.5, a subline of the human hepatoma cell line Huh-7, has been used widely to amplify HCV because HCV can efficiently replicate in these cells due to a defect in innate antiviral signalling.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The overlap of multiple liver diseases can cause the disease activity and severity to worsen rapidly in some cases. We rarely see patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with overlapping autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). A 64-year-old woman who had been prescribed oral drugs to treat diabetes and hypertension (metformin 500 mg/day and voglibose 0.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Recently, morbidities due to primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection have increased in young Japanese adults because of decreased anti-CMV antibodies in them. CMV infections are typically resolved naturally in immunocompetent individuals, and complications rarely occur. Here we present the case of an immunocompetent adult with CMV infection complicated by splenic infarctions and an esophageal ulcer.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A 40-year-old man complaining of abdominal distention was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography of the abdomen demonstrated a very large abdominal mass with fat and calcification. The size of the mass rapidly increased from 30cm to 40cm over two weeks.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Tocilizumab, an anti-human interleukin 6 receptor (IL-6R) monoclonal antibody, is widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is expected to exhibit clinical efficacy when used to treat other autoimmune diseases. However, a risk of opportunistic infection is occasionally recognized. A 54-year-old woman had received an oral corticosteroid and methotrexate to treat RA.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF