Publications by authors named "Sotaro Ozaka"

Lipid mediator, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) has recently attracted attention as a potential therapeutic option for various inflammatory autoimmune diseases. It has been reported that PEA exerts an inhibitory effect on inflammation triggered by PRRs, particularly Toll-like receptors expressed on myeloid antigen-presenting cells. However, the precise role of PEA in T cell development and function has not yet been elucidated.

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Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a refractory inflammatory disorder of the intestine, which is probably triggered by dysfunction of the intestinal epithelial barrier. Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) secreted by colon epithelial cells protects against intestinal inflammation by exerting anti-protease and anti-microbial activities. Daikenchuto (DKT) is one of the most commonly prescribed Japanese traditional herbal medicines for various digestive diseases.

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Objectives: Since a standard sedation protocol for pediatric colonoscopy (CS) has not been established, evidence on optimal sedative agents is needed. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of thiamylal in sedation for pediatric CS compared to midazolam.

Methods: Children from 7 to 16 years of age who underwent CS under sedation with intravenous thiamylal or midazolam at our hospital between June 2010 and March 2024 were included in this retrospective observational study.

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Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that causes congenital toxoplasmosis, including fetal death, abortion, stillbirth, morphological abnormalities, and premature birth. Primary T.

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A 35-year-old man with fever and diarrhea visited our hospital because of white string-like fecal excretion. Based on a morphological examination of the excreted object, a Diphyllobothrium infection was suspected. Additionally, Gram staining of a fecal sample revealed Campylobacter infection.

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an incurable chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Although IL-17-producing helper T (Th17) cells are thought to be one of the exacerbating factors in MS, the underlying pathogenic mechanism is incompletely understood. TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) deficient T cells exhibited enhanced Th17 cell differentiation, however, the physiological relevance of TRAF6 in T cells remains unknown.

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Rationale: Tocilizumab, a humanized anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor monoclonal antibody, is used for the treatment of adult-onset Still disease (AOSD). Despite its efficacy in many clinical situations, concerns have been raised regarding intestinal mucosal injury in patients receiving tocilizumab.

Patient Concerns: A 64-year-old woman with a history of AOSD was admitted to our hospital with hematochezia.

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Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) plays a pivotal role in the induction of inflammatory responses not only in innate immune cells but also in non-immune cells, leading to the activation of adaptive immunity. Signal transduction mediated by TRAF6, along with its upstream molecule MyD88 in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) is crucial for the maintenance of mucosal homeostasis following inflammatory insult. The IEC-specific TRAF6-deficient (TRAF6ΔIEC) and MyD88-deficient (MyD88ΔIEC) mice exhibit increased susceptibility to DSS-induced colitis, emphasizing the critical role of this pathway.

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  • The study aimed to compare the characteristics of undifferentiated gastric cancer (UGC) and differentiated gastric cancer (DGC) in patients who had undergone successful Helicobacter pylori eradication (HPE).
  • The analysis included 129 tumors from 115 patients, revealing that UGC was associated with larger tumor size and a higher rate of aggressive features compared to DGC.
  • Significant risk factors for UGC diagnosis were identified as female sex and lack of follow-up care, underscoring the importance of ongoing monitoring after HPE to improve patient outcomes.
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Although excessive immune responses by Th17 cells, a helper T cell subset, are implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the mechanism by which its localization in an inflamed colon is regulated remains unclear. Chemokines and their receptors are involved in the pathogenesis of IBD, however, the relative significance of each receptor on Th17 cells remains unknown. We generated C-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) knockout (KO) and CCR6 KO mice in the syngeneic background using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and found that the phenotypes of experimental colitis worsened in both mutant mice.

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Various vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 have been developed in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic, several of which are highly effective in preventing COVID-19 in the general population. Patients with chronic liver diseases (CLDs), particularly those with liver cirrhosis, are considered to be at a high risk for severe COVID-19 and death. Given the increased rates of disease severity and mortality in patients with liver disease, there is an urgent need to understand the efficacy of vaccination in this population.

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Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the nerve myelin sheath. The balance between pathogenic Th17 cells and regulatory Treg cells, both of which express the chemokine receptor CCR6 is critical for determining disease activity. It has been postulated that CCL20, the cognate ligand of CCR6, produced by the blood-brain barrier attracts these immune cells to the central nervous system (CNS).

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  • H. pylori eradication therapy lowers gastric cancer risk, but some patients remain high-risk due to factors like protein methylation, specifically eEF1A dimethylation, which is linked to cancer development.
  • A study analyzed 115 patients, assessing eEF1A dimethylation levels in different gastric mucosa types, finding significant increases in H. pylori-positive cases and a reduction post-eradication treatment only in the surface area of mucosa.
  • High levels of eEF1A dimethylation in the basal area after H. pylori treatment were associated with a greater risk of gastric cancer, highlighting the need for further research into potential indicators of cancer risk in these patients.
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  • * A case study highlighted that a patient with EGPA experienced acute cholecystitis but was successfully treated with glucocorticoids, allowing them to avoid surgery.
  • * It's crucial for healthcare providers to recognize that acute cholecystitis can occur in EGPA patients, especially those showing abdominal pain and elevated eosinophil levels, as mild cases may be treated conservatively without surgical intervention.
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  • * Saireito, a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, was tested on mice with antibiotic-induced dysbiosis to determine its effects on leaky gut and intestinal barrier integrity over a 28-day period.
  • * Results showed that Saireito significantly reduced symptoms like fecal occult bleeding and cecum enlargement, while enhancing intestinal barrier function and improving gut microbiota diversity, suggesting its potential as a treatment for conditions like ulcerative colitis.
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CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and CD4 helper T (Th) cells play a critical role in protective immune responses to tumor cells. Particularly, Th9 cells exert anti-tumor activity by producing IL-9. TNF receptor (TNFR)-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is an adaptor protein that mediates the signals from both the TNFR superfamily and Toll-like receptors (TLRs).

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  • Lipid mediators, like PEA (palmitoylethanolamide), are important for both starting and resolving inflammation, particularly in response to TLR (Toll-like receptor) signaling.
  • In lupus-prone mice, levels of PEA were found to be significantly lower, and its supplementation was found to suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhance immune responses.
  • PEA not only reduced inflammation and serum IL-6 levels in treated mice but also shows potential as a new treatment focus for inflammatory diseases.
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  • Ingestion of cylindrical batteries, like AA batteries, is underreported but can lead to serious gastrointestinal damage, including ulcers and perforation.
  • A case of a 45-year-old man with mental retardation involved the successful endoscopic removal of eight ingested AA batteries, which caused corrosive changes in the digestive tract.
  • Early extraction of cylindrical batteries is recommended to prevent chemical damage, while careful monitoring can be sufficient if the batteries have passed the pyloric ring without symptoms.
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  • A 71-year-old woman developed acute pancreatitis after receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, presenting with upper abdominal pain and vomiting two days post-vaccination.
  • Laboratory tests indicated elevated pancreatic enzymes and imaging showed significant pancreatic enlargement.
  • She was treated successfully with medication and recovered without complications, highlighting the need to recognize potential cases of pancreatitis following mRNA vaccination.
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Background: Monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL) is a rare primary intestinal T-cell lymphoma, previously known as enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma type II. MEITL is an aggressive T-cell lymphoma with a poor prognosis and high mortality rate. The known major complications of MEITL are intestinal perforation and obstruction.

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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder in the intestine, and the dysfunction of intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) may trigger the onset of IBD. Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is a serine protease inhibitor that has been implicated in the tissue-protective effect in the skin and lung. We found that SLPI was induced in lipopolysaccharides-treated colon carcinoma cell line and in the colon of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated mice.

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  • - Anisakidosis occurs when people eat marine fish, like chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus), infected with Anisakis parasites without cooking or freezing them properly
  • - The study identifies different species of Anisakis in S. japonicus depending on where the fish are caught, with Anisakis simplex s.s. prevalent in Sekisaba and South Oita, while A. pegreffii is found in Nagasaki Prefecture
  • - Sekisaba has a significantly lower prevalence of Anisakis compared to the other areas, suggesting it may represent a unique stock of S. japonicus.
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There is no established treatment for rectal varices. Although endoscopic cyanoacrylate (N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate) injection therapy is the standard treatment for gastric varices, there are few reports of its use for rectal varices. We present a case of rectal varix that was successfully treated with endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection therapy.

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Chikungunya fever is a mosquito-borne disease cause of persistent arthralgia. The current diagnosis of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) relies on a conventional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay. Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) is a rapid and simple tool used for DNA-based diagnosis of a variety of infectious diseases.

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