Comparison of BCG Tokyo172 Strain Induction Therapy Between Low Dose and Standard Dose for Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: Intravesical Instillation of BCG Tokyo172 Strain.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify factors that predict recurrence by comparing low-dose and standard-dose Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) induction therapy in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Methods: A total of 273 consecutive NMIBC patients who received low-dose (40 mg) or standard-dose (80 mg) BCG intravesical instillation therapy between January 2004 and December 2023 were analyzed. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test.

Elevated PRELP expression in heart and liver fibrosis promotes collagen production.

Fibrosis results from the excessive production of extracellular matrix proteins by myofibroblasts. It has recently been reported that in the heart, myofibroblasts develop chondrocyte-like properties following myocardial infarction as fibrosis progresses and tissues stiffen. However, the nature of these chondrocyte-like myofibroblasts remains unclear.

A genome-wide association study identifies a locus associated with knee extension strength in older Japanese individuals.

Sarcopenia is a common skeletal muscle disease in older people. Lower limb muscle strength is a good predictive value for sarcopenia; however, little is known about its genetic components. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for knee extension strength in a total of 3452 Japanese aged 60 years or older from two independent cohorts.

Attenuation of HOIL-1L ligase activity promotes systemic autoimmune disorders by augmenting linear ubiquitin signaling.

Linear ubiquitin chains, which are generated specifically by the linear ubiquitin assembly complex (LUBAC) ubiquitin ligase, play crucial roles in immune signaling, including NF-κB activation. LUBAC comprises catalytic large isoform of heme-oxidized iron regulatory protein 2 ubiquitin ligase 1 (HOIL-1L) interacting protein (HOIP), accessory HOIL-1L, and SHANK-associated RH domain-interacting protein (SHARPIN). Deletion of the ubiquitin ligase activity of HOIL-1L, an accessory ligase of LUBAC, augments LUBAC functions by enhancing LUBAC-mediated linear ubiquitination, which is catalyzed by HOIP.

GWAS for systemic sclerosis identifies six novel susceptibility loci including one in the Fcγ receptor region.

Here we report the largest Asian genome-wide association study (GWAS) for systemic sclerosis performed to date, based on data from Japanese subjects and comprising of 1428 cases and 112,599 controls. The lead SNP is in the FCGR/FCRL region, which shows a penetrating association in the Asian population, while a complete linkage disequilibrium SNP, rs10917688, is found in a cis-regulatory element for IRF8. IRF8 is also a significant locus in European GWAS for systemic sclerosis, but rs10917688 only shows an association in the presence of the risk allele of IRF8 in the Japanese population.

Androgen receptor binding sites enabling genetic prediction of mortality due to prostate cancer in cancer-free subjects.

Prostate cancer (PrCa) is the second most common cancer worldwide in males. While strongly warranted, the prediction of mortality risk due to PrCa, especially before its development, is challenging. Here, we address this issue by maximizing the statistical power of genetic data with multi-ancestry meta-analysis and focusing on binding sites of the androgen receptor (AR), which has a critical role in PrCa.

Distinct transcriptome architectures underlying lupus establishment and exacerbation.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease involving multiple immune cells. To elucidate SLE pathogenesis, it is essential to understand the dysregulated gene expression pattern linked to various clinical statuses with a high cellular resolution. Here, we conducted a large-scale transcriptome study with 6,386 RNA sequencing data covering 27 immune cell types from 136 SLE and 89 healthy donors.

Biological insights into systemic lupus erythematosus through an immune cell-specific transcriptome-wide association study.

Objective: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified >100 risk loci for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the disease genes at most loci remain unclear, hampering translation of these genetic discoveries. We aimed to prioritise genes underlying the 110 SLE loci that were identified in the latest East Asian GWAS meta-analysis.

Methods: We built gene expression predictive models in blood B cells, CD4 and CD8 T cells, monocytes, natural killer cells and peripheral blood cells of 105 Japanese individuals.

Predictive Factors for Future Onset of Reflux Esophagitis: A Longitudinal Case-control Study Using Health Checkup Records.

Background/aims: Although risk factors of reflux esophagitis (RE) have been investigated in numerous cross-sectional studies, little is known about predictive factors associated with future onset of RE. We investigated time courses of clinical parameters before RE onset by a longitudinal case-control study using health checkup records.

Methods: We used health checkup records between April 2004 and March 2014 at 9 institutions in Japan.

Eight novel susceptibility loci and putative causal variants in atopic dermatitis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common allergic disease in the world. While genetic components play critical roles in its pathophysiology, a large proportion of its genetic background is still unexplored.

Objectives: This study sought to illuminate the genetic associations with AD using genome-wide association study (GWAS) and its downstream analyses.

Meta-analysis of 208370 East Asians identifies 113 susceptibility loci for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disorder, has been associated with nearly 100 susceptibility loci. Nevertheless, these loci only partially explain SLE heritability and their putative causal variants are rarely prioritised, which make challenging to elucidate disease biology. To detect new SLE loci and causal variants, we performed the largest genome-wide meta-analysis for SLE in East Asian populations.

A Retained Epidural Catheter Fragment Treated by Surgery.

The breakage of an epidural catheter is an extremely rare complication. We describe a unique case where a retained epidural catheter fragment after epidural anesthesia was treated by surgery. The epidural catheter broke during its removal, requiring surgery to remove the retained catheter.

[Using skin graft for local control in stage IV breast cancer to improve quality of life].

A 59-year-old woman was hospitalized in June 2012 for Stage IV bilateral breast cancer, axillary lymph-node metastasis, metastatic lung tumor, metastatic bone tumor, right carcinomatous pleuritis, and right-eye choroidal metastasis. Treatment for improvement of symptoms included steroids, continuous subcutaneous infusion of morphine hydrochloride, and thoracic drainage. Chemotherapy with zoledronic acid+TC therapy was administered, with only a small residual primary lesion of the right breast.

Abdominal symptom-related QOL in individuals visiting an outpatient clinic and those attending an annual health check.

Objective: Quality of life (QOL) impairment of patients who visit an outpatient clinic for abdominal symptoms has not been clarified. We investigated symptom-related QOL impairment that led patients to seek medical care.

Patients And Methods: Abdominal symptom-related QOL was determined using the Izumo scale instrument in 172 patients who visited a clinic for their abdominal symptoms and in 961 healthy subjects who attended an annual health check.

Long root of deciduous anterior teeth.

A 24-year-old female Japanese patient presented with remarkably long roots of retained deciduous anterior teeth and permanent anterior teeth in the upper and lower jaw. Four lower anterior teeth were extracted for esthetic reasons. The patient had no apparent clinical syndrome related to the teeth or jaw, nor did there appear to be a family history of this condition.

Ulinastatin shows preventive effect on post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis in a multicenter prospective randomized study.

Background And Aim: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a useful diagnostic and therapeutic procedure; however, ERCP occasionally causes post-ERCP pancreatitis. The administration of gabexate mesilate has been reported to be effective for the prevention for post-ERCP pancreatitis when given during and after the procedure. The aim of the present study was to investigate the preventive effect of the novel protease inhibitor ulinastatin on post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Effects of famotidine, mosapride and tandospirone for treatment of functional dyspepsia.

Background: An effective therapeutic strategy for functional dyspepsia (FD) has not been well-established.

Aim: We investigated and compared the therapeutic effects of famotidine, mosapride and tandospirone for the control of dyspeptic symptoms.

Methods: Fully examined FD patients of outpatient clinics at seven different medical centres were enrolled in the study.

Nuclear factor {kappa}B inactivation in the rat liver ameliorates short term total warm ischaemia/reperfusion injury.

Background: In hepatic ischaemia/reperfusion injury, activated liver macrophages (Kupffer cells) are dominantly regulated by a transcription factor, nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB), with respect to expression of inflammatory cytokines, acute phase response proteins, and cell adhesion molecules.

Aims: We assessed whether inactivation of NFkappaB in the liver could attenuate total hepatic warm ischaemia/reperfusion injury.

Methods: We studied rats with hepatic overexpression of inhibitor kappaBalpha super-repressor (IkappaBalpha SR) caused by a transgene introduced using an adenoviral vector.

Comparative study of nizatidine and famotidine for maintenance therapy of erosive esophagitis.

Background: The therapeutic effect of combined administration of prokinetics and histamine H2 receptor antagonists (H2RA) in gastroesophageal reflux disease is reported to be superior to that of monotherapy with H2RA alone. In addition to its acid-suppressing effect, the H2RA nizatidine also has a prokinetic action by suppressing acetylcholine esterase. The present multicenter, randomized controlled study was performed to investigate whether nizatidine is superior to famotidine, which does not suppress acetylcholine esterase activity, in maintenance therapy for erosive esophagitis.

Symptom relief in patients with reflux esophagitis: comparative study of omeprazole, lansoprazole, and rabeprazole.

Background And Aim: Rabeprazole has a faster onset of antisecretory activity than omeprazole and lansoprazole. The aim of the present study was to clarify whether there is any difference in the speed of symptom relief in patients with reflux esophagitis following the administration of these three proton pump inhibitors (PPI).

Methods: Eighty-five patients with erosive reflux esophagitis were randomized to receive 8 weeks of 20 mg of omeprazole (n = 30), 30 mg of lansoprazole (n = 25), or 20 mg of rabeprazole (n = 30) once a morning.

Which types of non-bleeding visible vessels in gastric peptic ulcers should be treated by endoscopic hemostasis?

Background And Aims: Because non-bleeding visible vessels (NBVV) of gastric peptic ulcers have the potential to re-bleed, endoscopic hemostatic treatment may be necessary during the first emergency endoscopy. However, not all NBVV re-bleed, and endoscopic hemostasis sometimes causes fatal side-effects. Therefore, we have evaluated the risk of re-bleeding from various NBVV in gastric peptic ulcers to determine which types should be treated by endoscopy to prevent re-bleeding.

Activation of prostaglandin E2-receptor EP2 and EP4 pathways induces growth inhibition in human gastric carcinoma cell lines.

The effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on the proliferation of gastric cancer cells is still unclear. PGE2 receptors are divided into four subtypes - EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4 - which are coupled to three different intracellular signal-transduction systems. Stimulation of EP2 and EP4 is linked with cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA).