Prognostic Factors in Hemodialysis Patients Undergoing Endovascular Treatment for Critical Limb Ischemia due to Isolated Below-the-Knee Disease.

Aim: To investigate the prognosis and to clarify the predictors of both patient and limb survival among hemodialysis (HD) patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) due to isolated below-the-knee (BK) disease.

Methods: An observational cohort study, analyzing a total of 546 HD patients with 681 limbs who underwent endovascular treatment (EVT) for CLI with isolated BK disease at 11 hospitals in Japan between March 2004 and June 2011, was performed.

Results: The mean patient age was 69.

Serum iron levels as a new biomarker in chemotherapy with leucovorin and fluorouracil plus oxaliplatin or leucovorin and fluorouracil plus irinotecan, with or without molecularly-targeted drugs.

Serum iron levels have been reported to increase following the administration of various anticancer drugs. An increase in serum iron levels during therapy with leucovorin and fluorouracil plus oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) or leucovorin and fluorouracil plus irinotecan (FOLFIRI) was also observed. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between serum iron levels and prognosis in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) patients treated with FOLFOX/FOLFIRI ± molecularly-targeted drugs.

Patient factors against stable control of warfarin therapy for Japanese non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients.

Introduction: Effectiveness and safety of warfarin therapy for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients are strongly associated with its stability presented such as time in therapeutic range (TTR) of PT-INR. However, the factors that affect TTR have not been fully elucidated in Japan where majority of patients are controlled within the range of 1.6-2.

Individualized chemotherapy for colorectal cancer based on the collagen gel droplet-embedded drug sensitivity test.

The leucovorin (FOL) and fluorouracil (5-FU) plus oxaliplatin (l-OHP; FOLFOX) or FOL and 5-FU plus irinotecan (SN-38; FOLFIRI) regimens with or without molecularly-targeted drugs are widely used as first-line chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Whether FOLFOX or FOLFIRI is administered first is not significant, however, it is essential that full administration of the targeted dosages of all 3 drugs, 5-FU, l-OHP and SN-38, is achieved. However, this is not always possible and second-line chemotherapy must be abandoned in certain cases.

Efficacy and effect on plasma B-type natriuretic peptide concentration of losartan-hydrochlorothiazide for hypertension uncontrolled by losartan-based therapy: subanalysis of a Multicentre Prospective Observational Study.

Many patients with hypertension have difficulty achieving their target blood pressure (BP). Therefore combination therapy, for example with an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and a diuretic, may be recommended. We previously evaluated the efficacy and safety of losartan (LOS) 50 mg - hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.