Thrombin-induced kynurenine 3-monooxygenase causes variations in the kynurenine pathway, leading to neurological deficits in a murine intracerebral hemorrhage model.

The purpose of the present study is to investigate changes in the kynurenine pathway after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and its effects on ICH-induced injury. The exposure of a primary rat microglial culture to thrombin increased the mRNA level of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), and this increase was attenuated by a p38 MAPK inhibitor. Thrombin also increased the protein level of KMO.

Severe co-infection caused by difficult-to-diagnose hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae K1-ST82 in a patient with COVID-19: a case report.

Background: Co-infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae presents a significant concern in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19), increasing the risk of severe disease progression. Hypervirulent (hv) and hypermucoviscous (hm) K. pneumoniae (Kp) has gained prominence in Asia due to its capacity to cause invasive community-acquired infections.

Vagus nerve size determined via ultrasonography is associated with white matter lesions in patients with vascular risk factors.

Purpose: The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the cervical vagus nerve (VN), as assessed through ultrasonography, might be linked to autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Hypertension is the primary factor associated with cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs), but there is also evidence of a connection with autonomic nervous system dysfunction. However, the associations between WMLs and VN size are unclear.

Oral condition at admission predicts functional outcomes and hospital-acquired pneumonia development among acute ischemic stroke patients.

Introduction: Oral care is crucial for the prevention of cardiovascular events and pneumonia. However, few studies have evaluated the associations between multidimensional assessments of oral status or functional outcomes and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP).

Methods: Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) were retrospectively analyzed.

Expression of ISG60 is induced by TLR3 signaling in BEAS‑2B bronchial epithelial cells: Possible involvement in CXCL10 expression.

Viral infections in the respiratory tract are common, and, in recent years, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 outbreaks have highlighted the effect of viral infections on antiviral innate immune and inflammatory reactions. Specific treatments for numerous viral respiratory infections have not yet been established and they are mainly treated symptomatically. Therefore, understanding the details of the innate immune system underlying the airway epithelium is crucial for the development of new therapies.

Safety of sarilumab in a Japanese population with rheumatoid arthritis by age group: Data from an interim analysis of a postmarketing surveillance study.

Objectives: Using data from a postmarketing surveillance, this interim subgroup analysis investigated the safety of sarilumab in younger (<65 years) and older patients (≥65 and ≥75 years) with rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: During this interim analysis, patients who were treated with sarilumab in Japan were enrolled between June 2018 and 2021. Data collected by 12 January 2022 were analysed, with adverse drug events monitored over 52 weeks.

Utility of the modified 5-item frailty index as a predictor of postoperative febrile urinary tract infection in patients who underwent ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effect of the modified 5-item frailty index on perioperative complications and surgical outcomes in patients who underwent ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy for upper urinary tract stones.

Methods: Patients who underwent ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy for upper urinary tract stones between 2019 and 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. Assessment was performed using the modified 5-item frailty index based on medical history (hypertension, diabetes, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and functional status.

Endocrine immune-related adverse event is a prognostic biomarker independent of lead-time bias.

Objectives: Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are known to be associated with clinical efficacy and better prognoses in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. In particular, endocrine irAE (e-irAE) is related to better prognoses. Since the incidence of irAEs increase as treatment duration becomes longer, we should consider lead-time bias not to overvalue the result.

Pulmonary function and chest CT abnormalities 3 months after discharge from COVID-19, 2020-2021: A nation-wide multicenter prospective cohort study from the Japanese respiratory society.

Background: No comprehensive analysis of the pulmonary sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Japan based on respiratory function tests and chest computed tomography (CT) has been reported. We evaluated post-COVID-19 conditions, especially focusing on pulmonary sequelae assessed by pulmonary function tests and chest CT.

Methods: For this prospective cohort study, we enrolled 1069 patients who presented pneumonia at the time of admission in 55 hospitals from February 2020 to September 2021.

[Retracted] Predictors of efficacy of anamorelin in patients with non‑small cell lung cancer and cachexia: A retrospective study.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.

Real-time MBDi-RPA using methyl-CpG binding protein 2: A real-time detection method for simple and rapid estimation of CpG methylation status.

Background: Analysis of CpG methylation is informative for cancer diagnosis. Previously, we developed a novel method to discriminate CpG methylation status in target DNA by blocking recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), an isothermal DNA amplification technique, using methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) protein 2 (MBD2). The method was named MBD protein interference-RPA (MBDi-RPA).

TMEM2 suppresses TLR3-mediated IFN-β/ISG56/CXCL10 expression in BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cells.

Background: Bronchial epithelial cells are at the front line of viral infections. Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) cascade causes the expression of interferon (IFN)-β and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), which in turn induce an antiviral response. Members of the transmembrane protein (TMEM) family are expressed in various cell types.

Role of G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor in the pathogenesis of chronic asthma.

Background And Aim: G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) is an estrogen receptor located on the plasma membrane. We previously reported that the administration of G-1, a GPER-specific agonist, suppressed development of acute ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in a mouse model. Herein, we evaluate the involvement of GPER in a mouse model of chronic OVA asthma.

Predictors of efficacy of anamorelin in patients with non‑small cell lung cancer and cachexia: A retrospective study.

Anamorelin, a ghrelin receptor agonist, is approved in Japan for the treatment of cachexia in patients with lung and gastrointestinal cancer. However, there is limited research on the usefulness of anamorelin in clinical settings, therefore, the present study evaluated its efficacy using patient characteristics. A total of 40 patients with non-small cell lung cancer and cachexia who were prescribed anamorelin in the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine (Aomori, Japan) between July 2021 and November 2022, were retrospectively assessed.

Disseminated Non-tuberculous Mycobacteriosis with a Skull Lesion Controlled by Resection after Exacerbation during Antimicrobial Chemotherapy in a Patient Positive for Anti-IFN-γ-neutralizing Autoantibodies.

A 48-year-old man presented with a fever and back pain and was referred to our hospital with multiple bone destruction and abscess formation. A sputum examination revealed Mycobacterium intracellulare, and pathological findings revealed an indistinct granuloma and acid-fast bacilli, leading to a diagnosis of disseminated nontuberculous mycobacteriosis. Anti-interferon-γ-neutralizing autoantibodies were detected in the serum, and acquired immunodeficiency was suspected to be the etiology.

An AsCas12f-based compact genome-editing tool derived by deep mutational scanning and structural analysis.

SpCas9 and AsCas12a are widely utilized as genome-editing tools in human cells. However, their relatively large size poses a limitation for delivery by cargo-size-limited adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. The type V-F Cas12f from Acidibacillus sulfuroxidans is exceptionally compact (422 amino acids) and has been harnessed as a compact genome-editing tool.

Clinical efficacy and safety of multipotent adult progenitor cells (invimestrocel) for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by pneumonia: a randomized, open-label, standard therapy-controlled, phase 2 multicenter study (ONE-BRIDGE).

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening inflammatory lung injury with high mortality; no approved medication exists. Efficacy and safety of bone marrow-derived, allogeneic, multipotent adult progenitor cells (invimestrocel) plus standard treatment in patients with ARDS caused by pneumonia was evaluated.

Methods: A randomized, open-label, standard therapy-controlled, phase 2 study (January 2019-September 2021) conducted in 29 centers in Japan.

Safety and effectiveness of sarilumab in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis refractory to previous treatments: An interim analysis of a post-marketing surveillance.

Objectives: An interim analysis of post-marketing surveillance data to assess the safety and effectiveness of sarilumab in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis refractory to previous treatment.

Methods: The interim analysis included patients who initiated sarilumab therapy between June 2018 and January 2021. The primary objective of this surveillance was safety.

Safety and feasibility of carboplatin and paclitaxel in combination with nintedanib for non-small cell lung cancer patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a prospective pilot study.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a risk factor for mortality in patients with lung cancer. Nintedanib has been known to slow down the decline of lung function and reduce IPF exacerbation. We aimed to explore the feasibility of adding nintedanib to chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with IPF.

Differential proteomic analysis and pathogenic effects of outer membrane vesicles derived from Acinetobacter baumannii under normoxia and hypoxia.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a major causative agent of nosocomial infections and its outer membrane vesicles (AbOMVs) have been shown to be involved in pathogenicity by transporting virulence factors and transferring information for communication between pathogens and host cells. Despite the fact that the infected sites of A. baumannii such as lungs and skin soft tissues are hypoxic, most studies on AbOMV virulence have used AbOMVs prepared under aerobic conditions.

Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis following COVID-19 in an Adolescent.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a systemic disease that causes vasculitis in various organs. Although the mechanism of pathogenesis remains unclear, infection has been reported to be a causative factor. We herein report a case of GPA that developed following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in an adolescent girl.

Association between forefoot pain and sesamoid rotation angle determined using a weight-bearing plantar ultrasound imaging device.

Forefoot pain is a common symptom for several foot problems. This study aimed to determine whether parameters of forefoot structure (hallux valgus angle (HVA), transverse arch height (TAH) and sesamoid rotation angle (SRA)) are associated with forefoot pain. 547 feet of adult women were divided into two groups: without pain (n = 472) and with pain (n = 75).