Orally active prostacyclin analogue beraprost sodium in patients with chronic kidney disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II dose finding trial.

Background: Evidence increasingly points to the importance of chronic hypoxia in the tubulointerstitium as a final common pathway to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Beraprost sodium (BPS) is an orally active prostacyclin (PGI2) analogue demonstrating prevention of the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in various animal models by maintaining renal blood flow and attenuating renal ischemic condition.

Methods: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II trial was designed to determine the recommended dose of the sustained-release form of BPS (TRK-100STP 120 μg/day or 240 μg/day) in Japanese patients with CKD.

A multinational phase IIb/III trial of beraprost sodium, an orally active prostacyclin analogue, in patients with primary glomerular disease or nephrosclerosis (CASSIOPEIR trial), rationale and study design.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is public health concern even in Asian countries. TRK-100STP, a sustained release tablet of an orally-active prostacyclin analogue, beraprost sodium, is suggested to suppress worsening of some parameters of renal filtration function, containing in slope of 1/serum creatinine (1/SCr) vs. time in a phase II clinical trial.

Antibacterial properties of a self-cured acrylic resin composed of a polymer coated with a silver-containing organic composite antibacterial agent.

A novel antibacterial polymer, coated with a silver-containing organic composite antibacterial agent, was dispersed in a self-cured acrylic resin. Residual viable cell count of each oral bacterial and fungal species cultivated on acrylic resin specimens containing the antibacterial polymer was significantly decreased when compared to those cultivated on specimens prepared from untreated polymer. A strong inverse correlation was found between the amount of eluted silver ions and the residual viable cell count of all species grown on the antibacterial polymer: the lower the viable cell count, the higher the amount of eluted silver ions.

In vitro biocompatibility of dextrin: the addition of a low concentration of dextrin in the medium promotes the cell activity of L929 mouse fibroblasts.

To develop a bone substitute with shape-generating properties, we focused our attention on dextrin, which has a low viscosity. After considering methods of evaluation for research and development, we started by using cells that are widely used for safe biological evaluations in the field of dentistry and conducted in vitro evaluations. In this experiment, we variously added concentrations of 0.

Residual washing detergent in cotton clothes: a factor of winter deterioration of dry skin in atopic dermatitis.

Although it is well known that the skin in patients with atopic dermatitis becomes drier in winter, the mechanisms of winter deterioration of dry skin are not fully understood. Our purpose was to determine whether residual washing detergent in cotton clothes plays a role in the winter deterioration of atopic dry skin. We studied 148 Japanese patients with atopic dermatitis who visited our dermatology clinic during winter months.