Immunological characteristics of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood across connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a serious complication of connective tissue diseases (CTDs). The heterogeneity of ILDs reflects differences in pathogenesis among diseases. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of CTD-ILDs via a detailed analysis of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and blood immune cells.

Effects of muscle quantity, muscle quality, and phase angle on whole-body reaction time in 5164 adults aged 20-91 years.

Purpose: Muscle quantity, defined as appendicular lean mass (ALM); muscle quality, defined as the ratio of muscle strength to ALM; and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)-derived phase angle (PhA) are determinants of physical performance. We examined whether muscle quality indices were significant predictors of the whole-body reaction time (WBRT) in healthy female and male adults aged 20-91 years.

Methods: Data from 5164 adults (2869 women and 2295 men; mean age ± standard deviation, 60.

The bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) international database: aims, scope, and call for data.

Background: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a technique widely used for estimating body composition and health-related parameters. The technology is relatively simple, quick, and non-invasive, and is currently used globally in diverse settings, including private clinicians' offices, sports and health clubs, and hospitals, and across a spectrum of age, body weight, and disease states. BIA parameters can be used to estimate body composition (fat, fat-free mass, total-body water and its compartments).

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.

Latent trajectory modelling of pulmonary artery pressure in systemic sclerosis: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To visualise the trajectories of pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and identify the clinical phenotypes for each trajectory, by applying latent trajectory modelling for PAP repeatedly estimated by echocardiography.

Methods: This was a multicentre, retrospective cohort study conducted at four referral hospitals in Kyoto, Japan. Patients with SSc who were treated at study sites between 2008 and 2021 and who had at least three echocardiographic measurements of systolic PAP (sPAP) were included.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and its outcomes in an aging society: a single-center cohort study in Japan from 2011 to 2020.

Background: We conducted a single-center cohort study of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from 2011 to 2020 to understand their real world treatment and outcomes, especially changes in physical function and quality of life (QOL) in elderly patients, including those aged ≥ 80 years.

Methods: For RA patients attending our outpatient clinic, we annually recorded tender and swollen joint counts, laboratory findings, therapeutic drugs, and scores from the Japanese Health Assessment Questionnaire and EuroQoL-5 Dimensions questionnaire. We examined changes in treatment and outcomes over time, by age group, in patients enrolled over a 10-year period, from 2011 to 2020.

A cross-sectional study to assess variability in knee frontal plane movement during single leg squat in patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Background: Single leg squat (SLS) tests help predict anterior cruciate ligament injuries. However, the variability in joint movement during this test has not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the knee frontal plane movement variability during SLS in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Lower limb kinematics of single-leg squat performance in patients with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency.

[Purpose] This study investigated the parameters that characterize the knee, hip, and pelvic kinematics during a single-leg squat in preoperative anterior cruciate ligament rupture injury. [Participants and Methods] Overall, 15 patients with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament deficiency were enrolled in this study. For each single-leg squat, data from two-dimensional video cameras and three-dimensional motion analysis were collected.

Association of Knee Extensor Muscle Strength and Cardiorespiratory Fitness With Bone Stiffness in Japanese Adults: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Knee extensor muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are major components of physical fitness. Because the interactive association of knee extensor muscle strength and CRF with bone health remains unclear, we aimed to investigate such association in Japanese adults.

Methods: Altogether, 8,829 Japanese adults (3,731 men and 5,098 women) aged ≥45 years completed the maximum voluntary knee extension test, submaximal exercise test, medical examination, and a questionnaire on lifestyle habits.

Joint movement variability during landing in patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Background: Rapid knee valgus and knee internal rotation motions in the initial phase of landing are the known mechanisms for anterior cruciate ligament injury, and many studies have been investigated on knee joint peak angle during landing. However, the variability in joint movement during landing has not been fully investigated. This study aimed to compare the coefficient of variation of lower extremity range of motion in patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and healthy subjects during landing.

Neuromuscular activation pattern of lower extremity muscles during pedaling in cyclists with single amputation of leg and with two legs: a case study.

Objective: In Para-cycling competitions, cyclists with amputation of one-leg and no prosthesis, i.e., Division Cycle, Sport Class C2, perform pedaling movement on bicycle by unilateral leg.

Risk stratification and clinical course of hepatitis B virus reactivation in rheumatoid arthritis patients with resolved infection: final report of a multicenter prospective observational study at Japanese Red Cross Hospital.

Background: The prophylaxis for hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation assumes that hepatic injury after reactivation is often rapidly progressive and can evoke fulminant hepatitis. The incidence and prognosis of reactivation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be different from those receiving organ transplantation and cancer chemotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the incidence, risk factors, and clinical course of HBV reactivation and develop a scoring system for risk stratification in RA patients with resolved infection.

Association between preexisting lung involvements and the risk of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in patients with microscopic polyangiitis: A multi-center retrospective cohort study.

To identify the factors associated with the risk of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) in patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), focusing on other preexisting lung involvements such as interstitial lung disease (ILD) and airway disease. In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed consecutive patients with myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive MPA who had undergone chest computed tomography (CT) before starting treatment between 2006 and 2016. Patients who already had DAH at initial CT imaging were excluded.

Thermal behavior and microstructures of cathodes for liquid electrolyte-based lithium batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used as a power source for portable equipment. However, the use of highly flammable organic solvents in the liquid electrolyte component in these batteries presents a serious safety concern. In this study, the thermal stability of battery cathodes comprising LiNiMnCoO (NMC) and LiPF-based electrolyte solutions have been investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods.

Incidence of hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients with resolved infection on immunosuppressive therapy for rheumatic disease: a multicentre, prospective, observational study in Japan.

Background: Although the reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is recognised as a serious complication in patients with rheumatic disease (RD) receiving immunosuppressive drugs (ISDs), the incidence and risk factors for reactivation remain controversial.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence and risk factors for HBV reactivation in patients with RD.

Methods: We performed a multicentre, observational, prospective study over 2 years in patients with resolved HBV infection.

Rapamycin Improves Mortality Following Intestinal Ischemia-Reperfusion via the Inhibition of Remote Lung Inflammation in Mice.

Background/aims: Acute-phase intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury can result in multiple organ failure, which may sometimes be fatal. However, no reliable treatment for this clinical state is available. Rapamycin has been reported to protect heart, brain and kidney against I-R injury.

Optimal home SBP targets for preventing the progression of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: Home blood pressure control can reduce the risk of increased urinary albumin excretion in patients with diabetes mellitus. However, the optimal home blood pressure targets to prevent the onset or progression of diabetic nephropathy are not well defined.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 851 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

A novel image toggle tool for comparison of serial mammograms: automatic density normalization and alignment-development of the tool and initial experience.

Purpose: The purpose is to develop a new image toggle tool with automatic density normalization (ADN) and automatic alignment (AA) for comparing serial digital mammograms (DMGs).

Materials And Methods: We developed an ADN and AA process to compare the images of serial DMGs. In image density normalization, a linear interpolation was applied by taking two points of high- and low-brightness areas.

Anti-inflammatory effects of carbon monoxide-releasing molecule on trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in mice.

Background And Aim: Recent findings indicate that carbon monoxide (CO) in non-toxic doses exerts a beneficial anti-inflammatory action in various experimental models. However, the precise anti-inflammatory mechanism of CO in the intestine remains unclear. Here, we assessed the effects of a novel water-soluble CO-releasing molecule, CORM-3, on trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in mice.

Low body mass index is associated with impaired quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between quality of life (QOL) and rheumatoid chachesia, malnutrition in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: EuroQol Group 5-Dimension Self-Report Questionnaire (EQ5D) and Japanese Health Assessment Questionnaire (JHAQ) scores, body mass index (BMI), arm muscle area (AMA) and clinical indicators were measured in 385 RA patients. One-way analysis of variance for obtained data was conducted among three groups: 131 with low BMI (< 20), 163 with moderate (20-25) and 91 with high BMI (≥25).

No increased mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biologics: results from the biologics register of six rheumatology institutes in Japan.

Objective: To investigate the influence of biologics on mortality and risk factors for death in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: RA patients treated with at least one dose of biologics in daily practice in six large rheumatology institutes ("biologics cohort") were observed until 15 May 2010 or death, whichever occurred first. Mortality of the biologics cohort and the "comparator cohort" (comprising patients among the IORRA cohort who had never been treated with biologics) was compared to that of the Japanese general population.

Transcription of DWARF4 plays a crucial role in auxin-regulated root elongation in addition to brassinosteroid homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The expression of DWARF4 (DWF4), which encodes a C-22 hydroxylase, is crucial for brassinosteroid (BR) biosynthesis and for the feedback control of endogenous BR levels. To advance our knowledge of BRs, we examined the effects of different plant hormones on DWF4 transcription in Arabidopsis thaliana. Semi-quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR showed that the amount of the DWF4 mRNA precursor either decreased or increased, similarly with its mature form, in response to an exogenously applied bioactive BR, brassinolide (BL), and a BR biosynthesis inhibitor, brassinazole (Brz), respectively.

Uncontrolled home blood pressure in the morning is associated with nephropathy in Japanese type 2 diabetes.

The purposes of this study were to investigate the state of blood pressure control level and to investigate the relationship between blood pressure control level and nephropathy in Japanese type 2 diabetes. We measured clinic and home blood pressure in 923 type 2 diabetic patients. According to the criteria for hypertension in the Japanese Society of Hypertension Guidelines 2009, patients were classified into four groups by clinic systolic blood pressure (130 mmHg) and morning systolic blood pressure (125 mmHg), as follows: controlled hypertension (CH), white-coat hypertension (WCH), masked hypertension (MH), and sustained hypertension (SH).