Effectiveness for remission maintenance rate and safety of different rituximab regimens for treating anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis in Japan: a J-CANVAS study.

Rituximab (RTX) has been reported to effectively maintain remission in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). In this multicenter study involving 57 patients who achieved remission after 24 weeks, we evaluated the effectiveness of RTX in maintaining remission in patients with AAV. Patients were divided into three groups based on RTX administration: continuous, induction phase-only, and maintenance phase-only groups.

Glucocorticoid tapering pace in microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis in Japanese real-world practice: A propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study from the J-CANVAS registry.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and outcomes among regimens of glucocorticoid tapering for microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in real-world practice.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the Japan Collaborative Registry of ANCA-associated Vasculitis (J-CANVAS) registry, and evaluated the prevalence of glucocorticoid tapering regimens in the PEXIVAS trial. In patients with newly diagnosed MPA and GPA, we compared outcomes among standard and reduced pace regimens.

Amphiphilic phospholipid polymers as a cryoprotectant for vitrification and nanowarming of rat livers.

Liver biobanking is a promising approach that saves the lives of patients with end-stage liver disease. Cryopreservation based on vitrification enables semi-permanent organ preservation, contributing to overcome the shortage of donors for liver transplants. A technical challenge in cryopreservation of transplantable organs lies in thawing methodology, and conventional convective warming cannot maintain the glassy state during thawing because of the large temperature gradient between the inner and outer parts of the organs, leading to ice formation and damage of cells in the organ.

Prevalence and risk factors for overactive bladder symptoms in patients with artificial urinary sphincter.

To demonstrate the prevalence and risk factors for overactive bladder symptoms associated with artificial urinary sphincter implantation, we investigated the patients who underwent primary artificial urinary sphincter implantation with severe urinary stress incontinence. Forty-eight patients who completely answered the questionnaires of the overactive bladder symptom score before surgery were included. Patient characteristics, urinary status at pre and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-device activation, and predictive factors for overactive bladder symptoms were examined.

Recipients of public assistance with advanced chronic kidney disease: insights into receiving a presentation of kidney replacement therapy options and polypharmacy from Japanese investigators with innovative network about kidney disease study.

Background: The characteristics of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are recipients of public assistance in Japan, and the adequacy of their medical care have not been reported previously.

Methods: The records of patients with CKD stage G5 who visited nine facilities in Japan from April to June 2013 were retrospectively reviewed to compare the characteristics and care of recipients of public assistance with those of non-recipients. Receiving a presentation of kidney replacement therapy (KRT) options and polypharmacy were used as indicators of suboptimal medical care.

Effectiveness and safety of rituximab in severely relapsed antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: a retrospective analysis of a Japanese multicentre cohort from the J-CANVAS.

We aimed to clarify the long-term safety and efficacy of rituximab (RTX) as a remission induction therapy following severe relapse in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). We retrospectively collected the data of patients with severely relapsed AAV from a Japanese multicentre cohort. The primary exposure was RTX use; the primary outcome was complete remission (CR) proportions at week 24.

Trifecta outcomes of robotic partial nephrectomy in obese patients: A comparison of body mass index <25, 25 to <30, and ≥30.

Objective: We analyzed robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) outcomes in obese patients based on body mass index (BMI) and trifecta achievement.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 296 patients who underwent RPN at Kansai Medical University Hospital between 2014 and 2022. The preoperative clinical data and perioperative outcomes were evaluated.

Effectiveness of intravenous methylprednisolone pulse in patients with severe microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of two different intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) pulse doses in patients with severe microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA).

Methods: We emulated a target trial using observational data from the nationwide registry in Japan. Patients with severe glomerulonephritis or diffuse alveolar haemorrhage were selected and pseudo-randomized into three groups using propensity score-based overlap weighting as follows: non-IVMP, IVMP 0.

Comprehensive in virio structure probing analysis of the influenza A virus identifies functional RNA structures involved in viral genome replication.

The influenza A virus genome is segmented into eight viral RNAs (vRNA). Secondary structures of vRNA are known to be involved in the viral proliferation process. Comprehensive vRNA structures in vitro, in virio, and in cellulo have been analyzed.

Optimal dose of intravenous cyclophosphamide during remission induction therapy in ANCA-associated vasculitis: A retrospective cohort study of J-CANVAS.

Objectives: To identify the optimal dose of intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCY) for induction therapy for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Methods: We retrospectively assessed patients with antibody-associated vasculitis who received IVCY every 2-3 weeks during the remission induction phase. The associations of the IVCY dose with infection-free survival and relapse-free survival were analysed using a Cox regression model.

Risk Factors for Mortality From Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection: Results From a 26-Year Follow-Up of a Community-Based Population.

Background Aortic aneurysm rupture and acute aortic dissection are life-threatening conditions and represent an ever-growing public health challenge. Comprehensive epidemiologic investigations for their risk factors are scant. We aimed to investigate risk factors associated with mortality from aortic diseases through analysis of a community-based Japanese cohort.

Association between hypogammaglobulinaemia and severe infections during induction therapy in ANCA-associated vasculitis: from J-CANVAS study.

Objectives: To investigate the association between decreased serum IgG levels caused by remission-induction immunosuppressive therapy of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) and the development of severe infections.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with new-onset or severe relapsing AAV enrolled in the J-CANVAS registry, which was established at 24 referral sites in Japan. The minimum serum IgG levels up to 24 weeks and the incidence of severe infection up to 48 weeks after treatment initiation were evaluated.

Azo-tagged C4N4 fluorophores: unusual overcrowded structures and their application to fluorescent imaging.

The C4N4 fluorophore is an intense fluorescence emitter featuring a 2,5-diaminopyrimidine core comprising four carbon and four nitrogen atoms. A series of C4N4 derivatives was photochemically dimerized at the 5-amino group, furnishing overcrowded -tetraaryl-substituted diaryl azo compounds with a characteristic skewed structure revealed by X-ray crystallography. The photoquenched azo-C4N4s are useful for fluorescently visualizing cells under hypoxic conditions.

Predictive correction of serum sodium concentration with formulas derived from the Edelman equation in patients with severe hyponatremia.

Severe hyponatremia can cause life-threatening cerebral edema. Treatment comprises rapid elevation of serum sodium concentration; however, overcorrection can result in osmotic demyelination. This study investigated potential factors, including predictive correction based on the Edelman equation, associated with appropriate correction in 221 patients with a serum sodium concentration ≤ 120 mEq/L who were admitted to a hospital in Nagoya, Japan.

RNA Structure Determination by High-Throughput Structural Analysis.

RNA functions are closely linked with their structures. Therefore, elucidating the secondary structure of RNAs provides crucial information regarding their function. The chemical modification or RNase-mediated digestion of single-stranded RNA has been utilized to experimentally reveal RNA secondary structures.

The well-developed actin cytoskeleton and Cthrc1 expression by actin-binding protein drebrin in myofibroblasts promote cardiac and hepatic fibrosis.

Fibrosis is mainly triggered by inflammation in various tissues, such as heart and liver tissues, and eventually leads to their subsequent dysfunction. Fibrosis is characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins (e.g.

Preoperative Factors Associated with Intraoperative Maximum Arterial Pressures in Patients with Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma.

Background: Surgery for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) can lead to life-threatening complications, such as intraoperative hypertensive crises, even when adequate doses of preoperative α-receptor blockades are administered.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify preoperative factors associated with intraoperative maximum arterial pressure (AP) in patients with PPGL.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 61 PPGL patients who underwent surgical resection in our hospital between 2006 and 2020.

Off-line two-dimensional LC-MS/MS determination of tryptophan enantiomers in mammalian urine and alteration of their amounts in d-amino acid oxidase deficient mice.

D-Tryptophan (D-Trp) is one of the minor D-enantiomers of amino acids discovered in microbes and mollusca. In the present study, a highly-selective 2D chiral LC-MS/MS method has been designed and developed focusing on the determination of Trp enantiomers to investigate the presence and regulation of free D-Trp in mammals. The developed system consisted of a reversed-phase separation for the first dimension, an enantioselective separation for the second dimension and also the detection using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for the third/fourth dimensions.

Familial Hyperaldosteronism Type 3 with a Rapidly Growing Adrenal Tumor: An In Situ Aldosterone Imaging Study.

Primary aldosteronism is most often caused by aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and bi-lateral adrenal hyperplasia. Most APAs are caused by somatic mutations of various ion channels and pumps, the most common being the inward-rectifying potassium channel . Germ line mutations of cause familial hyperaldosteronism type 3 (FH3), which is associated with severe hyperaldosteronism and hypertension.