Stability of Sodium Pentobarbital 5w/v% Aqueous Solution During Short-Term Chilled and Ambient-Temperature Storage.

The COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to obtain pharmaceutical-grade injectable anaesthetics used in animal experiments in Japan. To address this problem, it is worth the effort to evaluate whether the use of non-pharmaceutical-grade sodium pentobarbital (PBNa) water solution can be an alternative one from the perspective of stability, physicochemical properties, bioavailability and so on. In this article, as a first step, we examined the stability of PBNa 5w/v% aqueous solution (PBNa 5% AS).

Three Case Reports of Adult-onset Still Disease Associated with Breast Implantation.

Autoimmune syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) is an uncommon clinical condition reported by Shoenfeld et al. Although this syndrome is not scientifically validated, numerous reports on it have been published, and the manifestations are postulated to be diverse, including generalized symptoms such as chronic fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia, or dry mouth, induced by exogenous substances, specifically adjuvants, which can encompass vaccines, organisms, and silicone. Concurrently, adult-onset Still disease (AOSD) is also an infrequent ailment, characterized by spiking fever, arthritis, skin rash, lymphadenopathy, and serositis.

Response to antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence in Japan: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

In Japan, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality and hepatitis C virus infection is a major cause of HCC. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies evaluating patient response to antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C on the risk of HCC occurrence in Japan. Articles were searched using terms determined a priori through PubMed, screened by title and abstract, and selected by full-text assessment according to criteria determined a priori, including HCC occurrence in response to interferon (IFN)-based or IFN-free therapy, Japanese study, and 2 or more years of follow-up.

Two cases of cartilaginous metaplasia in the sclera of Japanese White rabbits.

Spontaneous cartilaginous metaplasia of the sclera has not been reported in rabbits. Herein, we report two cases of spontaneous cartilaginous metaplasia in the sclera of Japanese White (JW) rabbits. Case 1 was noted in a 14-week-old male Kbs:JW rabbit that received a single ocular instillation of 20% isoproterenol (IP) a day before necropsy, and showed no abnormalities in clinical signs, ophthalmological assessments, and necropsy.

A cross-sectional survey on awareness of cancer risk factors, information sources and health behaviors for cancer prevention in Japan.

Due to recent increases in cancer burden worldwide, we investigated current awareness of cancer risk factors and the association between information sources and health behaviors for cancer prevention in Japan. A nationwide representative sample aged 20 years or older (563 men and 653 women) responded to a questionnaire as part of a population-based survey in December 2018. Tobacco smoking (55.

Presumed congenital nictitating membrane dysplasia in a Japanese white rabbit.

Objective: The present report characterises a spontaneous nictitating membrane abnormality in a Japanese white rabbit.

Animal Studied: The animal was a male Japanese white rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus, Kbs:JW, 10 weeks old at the time of purchase) that had not received any treatment. A morphological abnormality of the nictitating membrane in the animal's right eye was detected.

Time-course changes in DNA damage of corneal epithelial cells in rabbits following ocular instillation with genotoxic compounds.

Background: In eye-drop drug development, the additional genotoxicity tests in some cases might be necessary to assess genotoxicity in the ocular surface since the ocular surface is exposed directly to high drug concentrations. Recently, an in vivo comet assay using corneal epithelial cells in rabbits following single ocular instillation was developed as an assay to evaluate genotoxicity in ocular tissues. In this study, we investigated the time-course changes in DNA damage after ocular instillation of genotoxic compounds to evaluate the optimal sampling timing for in vivo comet assay of the ocular surface tissue.

Histological Features of the Nasal Passage in Juvenile Japanese White Rabbits.

Rabbits are sometimes used for intranasal toxicology studies. We investigated the postnatal development of the nasal passage in juvenile Japanese white rabbits from just after birth to 6-week-old to provide information for conducting intranasal toxicological evaluation using juvenile animals. On postnatal day (PND) 1, the nasal passage consisted of the septum with mostly cartilaginous nasal wall and turbinates.

Aseptic Cavernosal Abscess: An Unrecognized Feature of Neutrophilic Dermatosis.

A 50-year-old man developed a sterile cavernosal abscess followed by prominent features of necrotizing neutrophilic dermatosis. We conducted a literature review, which revealed that aseptic abscesses in the corpus cavernosum occur in association with neutrophilic dermatosis. Patients with this condition frequently receive unnecessary antibiotic treatment and surgical interventions.

Orbital malignant schwannoma and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in rats caused by leakage of locally injected nickel subsulfide to the orbit.

Nickel subsulfide (NiS) is known to induce intraocular neoplasms when injected intravitreally into the eyes of rats. Here, we found two extraocular orbital neoplasms in two different rat strains, presumably due to the leakage of locally injected NiS to the extraocular orbital tissues. In the F344/DuCrlCrlj rat, an orbital mass arose at 30 weeks after injection, and invaded into the cranium.

In vivo comet assay in rabbit corneal epithelial cells following ocular instillation with genotoxic compounds.

Background: The in vivo comet assay is used to evaluate the genotoxic potential of compounds by detecting DNA strand breaks in cells isolated from animal tissue. The comet assay of hepatocytes is well established; however, the levels of systemic drug exposure following systemic administration are often insufficient to evaluate the genotoxic potential of compounds on the ocular surface following ocular instillation. To investigate the possibility of using the comet assay as a genotoxic evaluation tool for the ocular surface, we performed this assay on the corneal epithelial cells of rabbit eyes 2 h after the single ocular instillation of five genotoxic compounds, namely ethidium bromide, 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride (paraquat), methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), acrylamide, and 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO).

Investigation of unscheduled DNA synthesis in rabbit corneas following instillation of genotoxic agents.

Purpose: An unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) test is used for or genotoxicity evaluation. The UDS test with hepatocytes is well established; however, drug exposure levels at the application site for topically administered drugs (e.g.

Histological Features of Postnatal Development of the Eye in White Rabbits.

Rabbits are frequently used in studies assessing the toxicity of ophthalmic drugs; however, the postnatal histological changes that occur in the rabbit eye have not been fully described. To characterize postnatal ocular development in white rabbits, a histological investigation of the eyes and eyelids was sequentially performed between postnatal days (PNDs) 1 and 42. The eyes opened during PNDs10 to 12.

Soy Food Intake and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: The Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study.

Background: Although the poor prognosis and increasing incidence of pancreatic cancer highlight the need for prevention strategies, few lifestyle risk factors for pancreatic cancer have yet been identified. Soybeans contain various bioactive compounds. However, the association between soy food intake and pancreatic cancer risk remains unknown.

Meat subtypes and colorectal cancer risk: A pooled analysis of 6 cohort studies in Japan.

Red meat and processed meat have been suggested to increase risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), especially colon cancer. However, it remains unclear whether these associations differ according to meat subtypes or colon subsites. The present study addressed this issue by undertaking a pooled analysis of large population-based cohort studies in Japan: 5 studies comprising 232 403 participants (5694 CRC cases) for analysis based on frequency of meat intake, and 2 studies comprising 123 635 participants (3550 CRC cases) for analysis based on intake quantity.

Investigation of comet assays under conditions mimicking ocular instillation administration in a three-dimensional reconstructed human corneal epithelial model.

A comet assay is one of the genotoxicity methods for evaluating the potential of chemicals to induce DNA strand breaks. To investigate the usefulness of comet assays for evaluating the genotoxic potential of ophthalmic solutions, a three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed human corneal epithelial model (3D corneal model) was exposed to conditions mimicking topical ocular instillation administration. The 3D corneal model was exposed to acridine orange, ethidium bromide, hydrogen peroxide, 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride (paraquat), 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO), acrylamide and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS).

Association between serum liver enzymes and all-cause mortality: The Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study.

Background & Aims: The association of serum liver enzyme levels with all-cause mortality in individuals without hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection is inconsistent. We aimed to investigate all-cause and non-liver disease mortality according to levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) stratified by hepatitis virus infection status in a Japanese cohort.

Methods: Participants were 7243 men and 13 513 women aged 40-69 years at the baseline survey in 1993-1994.

Pathological Features of Corneal Phospholipidosis in Juvenile White Rabbits Induced by Ocular Instillation of Chloroquine or Amiodarone.

Cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs) can induce phospholipidosis (PLD) in organs/tissues. Several ophthalmic pharmaceuticals containing CADs are marketed and used in children. To investigate the effect of PLD on the developing cornea, chloroquine and amiodarone, which are representative CADs, were applied topically to the eyes of juvenile rabbits, and the effects in juvenile rabbits were compared with those in young adult rabbits.

Fruit and vegetable intake and pancreatic cancer risk in a population-based cohort study in Japan.

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are potential pathogenic factors of pancreatic cancer. Although fruits and vegetables are abundant in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory constituents, the reported associations between fruit and vegetable intake and pancreatic cancer risk have been inconsistent. Here, we investigated the association between fruit and vegetable intake and pancreatic cancer risk as part of the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study.

Factors improving the utility of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B: A nationwide multicenter study in Japan.

Aim: The consideration of patients' needs in terms of research outcomes is emphasized in research promotion to eradicate hepatitis B virus according to the Basic Act on Hepatitis Measures in Japan. This study analyzed patients' attitudes toward experienced antiviral therapies for chronic hepatitis B and their need for future therapies.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire comprising 124 questions was completed among patients with chronic hepatitis B from 61 core-center hospitals designated to implement and research policies on hepatitis in 47 prefectures from August 2013 to January 2014 (n = 3021, response rate = 51%).

Absence of histopathological changes in the retina of zebrafish treated with sodium iodate.

In ophthalmological research, the use of zebrafish to investigate visual behaviors has been increasing, but can produce misleading, false-positive results if compounds adversely affect their motor functions or central nervous system. Therefore, histological analysis to identify a target organ is important in zebrafish toxicity assay. We investigated the retinal degeneration in zebrafish, using typical retinal toxicants, mainly sodium iodate and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU).

Characteristics of corneal phospholipidosis induced by topical ocular application of chloroquine and amiodarone in rabbits.

Several cationic-amphiphilic drugs such as chloroquine and amiodarone are known to induce phospholipidosis in the cornea by systemic administration. However, the characteristics of ophthalmological and pathological changes when phospholipidosis-inducing drugs are topically applied have not been well studied. This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of corneal changes caused by topical application of chloroquine and amiodarone to Japanese white rabbits.

Pretreatment serum levels of interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 are associated with virologic response to telaprevir-based therapy.

Aim: Telaprevir (TVR) remarkably improves the efficacy of interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis C. Interleukin-28B (IL28B) genotype and interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) level predict virologic response to peg-interferon (Peg-IFN)/ribavirin (RBV) therapy. We aimed to investigate the usefulness of pretreatment serum IP-10 levels and IL28B genotyping in predicting sustained virologic response (SVR) to TVR-based triple therapy.

Regional disparities in interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C in Japan: a nationwide retrospective cohort study.

Background: Many patients with chronic hepatitis C have been treated with interferon (IFN) therapy in Japan, especially after the introduction of subsidies for medical expenses in 2008. However, its performance and outcome have never been evaluated. Therefore, a nationwide, mail-based, retrospective cohort study was conducted.