A large gastric rupture due to blunt trauma: a case report and a review of the Japanese literature.

Gastric rupture due to blunt trauma is rare, occurring in only 0.07-1.2% of all abdominal blunt traumas.

Mizoribine therapy combined with steroids and mizoribine blood concentration monitoring for idiopathic membranous nephropathy with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.

Background: We designed a prospective and randomized trial of mizoribine (MZR) therapy combined with prednisolone (PSL) for idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS).

Methods: Patients with IMN were divided into 2 groups, and MZR combined with PSL was administered for 2 years. PSL was initially prescribed at 40 mg/day and tapered.

[A case of gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination successfully treated with low-dose S-1 or capecitabine chemotherapy for five years].

We report a case of gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination that was successfully treated with low-dose S-1 or capecitabine chemotherapy over a 5-year period. In September 2007, distal gastrectomy was performed for treating gastric cancer with synchronous peritoneal dissemination in a 78-year-old man. Combination chemotherapy of S-1 and CDDP was administered after the surgical procedure.

Significance of combined cyclosporine-prednisolone therapy and cyclosporine blood concentration monitoring for idiopathic membranous nephropathy with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome: a randomized controlled multicenter trial.

Background: Combined treatment with cyclosporine microemulsion preconcentrate (CyA MEPC) and steroids has been widely used for idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) associated with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). Recent studies have shown that once-a-day and preprandial administration of CyA MEPC is more advantageous than the conventional twice-a-day administration in achieving the target blood CyA concentration at 2 h post dose (C2). We designed a randomized trial to compare these administrations.

An angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker prevents renal injury via inhibition of the Notch pathway in Ins2 Akita diabetic mice.

Recently, it has been reported that the Notch pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. In this study, we investigated the activation of the Notch pathway in Ins2 Akita diabetic mouse (Akita mouse) and the effects of telmisartan, an angiotensin II type1 receptor blocker, on the Notch pathway. The intracellular domain of Notch1 (ICN1) is proteolytically cleaved from the cell plasma membrane in the course of Notch activation.

Establishment and characterization of two 5-fluorouracil-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy is the first choice treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and resistance is the major obstacle to successful treatment. Recent studies have reported that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with chemoresistance in cancers. We speculated that EMT and 5-FU metabolism are related to the mechanism of 5-FU resistance.

[A case of synchronous multiple liver metastases of rectal cancer successfully treated with tegafur/uracil and oral leucovorin chemotherapy].

We report a case of synchronous multiple liver metastases of rectal cancer successfully treated with tegafur/uracil(UFT) and oral Leucovorin (LV) chemotherapy. Lower anterior resection was carried out on the rectal cancer patient (an 80-year- old man), who had synchronous multiple liver metastases. The UFT (450 mg/day) and oral LV (75 mg/day) were orally administered for 4 weeks, followed by a 1-week interval after the surgical procedure.

Doubling of serum creatinine: is it appropriate as the endpoint for CKD? Proposal of a new surrogate endpoint based on the reciprocal of serum creatinine.

Background: The evaluation of the progression of renal insufficiency, or decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), has been approached more simply and precisely by converting measured serum creatinine value into the reciprocal of serum creatinine, estimated GFR, or other parameters. Doubling of serum creatinine (simple doubling) is conveniently used as a surrogate endpoint for progression of renal disease but is thought to be biased unfairly by the initial value of serum creatinine (Scr(Int)). We proposed the definite decline in the reciprocal of serum creatinine (2-4 doubling) as a surrogate endpoint, comparing simple doubling with this new endpoint to verify the effect of Scr(Int) on the endpoint.

Expression of Drug-Resistant Factor Genes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy with Platinum Complex by Arterial Infusion.

This study investigated gene expression of drug resistance factors in biopsy tissue samples from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing chemotherapy by platinum complex. Liver biopsy was performed to collect tissue from the tumor site (T) and the non-tumor site (NT) prior to the start of treatment. For drug-resistant factors, drug excretion transporters cMOAT and MDR-1, intracellular metal binding protein MT2, DNA repair enzyme ERCC-l and inter-nucleic cell transport protein MVP, were investigated.

Relationship between plasma concentrations of morphine and its metabolites and pain in cancer patients.

Objective: This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between the plasma concentration of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide and pain in cancer patients receiving oral morphine.

Methods: The trough value of plasma concentrations of morphine and its metabolites were measured by high performance liquid chromatography using an ultraviolet detector. Using this assay system, the plasma concentrations of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide in 26 cancer pain patients were measured and compared with pain intensity.

Patients' attitudes towards generic drug substitution in Japan.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the understanding and attitude of Japanese patients towards generic drug substitutions.

Method: The subjects were male and female patients, who purchased their prescription medications at a pharmacy. A questionnaire was created to assess their attitudes towards generic drugs.

Lack of collagen XVIII/endostatin exacerbates immune-mediated glomerulonephritis.

Collagen XVIII is a component of the highly specialized extracellular matrix associated with basement membranes of epithelia and endothelia. In the normal kidney, collagen XVIII is distributed throughout glomerular and tubular basement membranes, mesangial matrix, and Bowman's capsule. Proteolytic cleavage within its C-terminal domain releases the fragment endostatin, which has antiangiogenic properties.

Interactions of human organic anion transporters with aristolochic acids.

Aristolochic acids (AAs), contained in Chinese herbal preparations, have been considered to induce nephropathy. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of AA-induced nephrotoxicity, we have elucidated the interaction of human organic anion transporters (hOATs) with AAs using their stable cell lines. AA-I and AA-II inhibited organic anion uptake by hOAT1, hOAT3, and hOAT4 in dose-dependent manners.

[A case of respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease].

A 37-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a cough. His blood test result and chest radiography findings were normal. High resolution chest computed tomography (HRCT) showed diffuse ground glass attenuation (GGA) with centrilobular distribution in the bilateral upper lung fields.

[Retardation of hemodialysis by recombinant human erythropoietin in patients with chronic kidney disease].

Unlabelled: Renal anemia is a serious complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and accelerates its progress. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) therapy not only improves anemia but also has a renoprotective effect. This study aimed to determine whether treatment with rHuEPO can retard the initiation of hemodialysis (HD) in patients with CKD.

Public involvement in pharmacogenomics research: a national survey on patients' attitudes towards pharmacogenomics research and the willingness to donate DNA samples to a DNA bank in Japan.

To assess the attitude of Japanese patients towards pharmacogenomics research and a DNA bank for identifying genomic markers associated with adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and their willingness to donate DNA samples, we conducted a survey of 550 male and female patients. The majority of the respondents showed a positive attitude towards pharmacogenomics research (87.6%) and a DNA bank (75.

Halofuginone prevents extracellular matrix deposition in diabetic nephropathy.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is known to promote the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and the development of diabetic nephropathy. Halofuginone, an analog of febrifugine, has been shown to block TGF-beta(1) signaling and subsequent type I collagen production. Here, the inhibitory effect of halofuginone on diabetic nephropathy was examined.

Acrolein, IL-6 and CRP as markers of silent brain infarction.

We found previously that increased levels of polyamine oxidase (PAO) [acetylpolyamine oxidase (AcPAO) plus spermine oxidase (SMO)], and acrolein (CH(2)CHCHO) are good markers of stroke. We then investigated whether silent brain infarction (SBI) can be detected by measuring acrolein, PAO, or other biomarkers. Several biomarkers were measured in the plasma of 53 normal subjects and 44 subjects with SBI.

Regulation of the statements in the information on drug metabolizing enzyme in the package insert--the present regulation and its history in Japan, the U.S. and the U.K.

The information about a drug interaction is specified as a section which should be printed on the package insert in Japan, the U.S. and the U.