Publications by authors named "Yamamoto W"
Background: This study investigated poor prognostic factors for the relapse of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) after remission induction therapy.
Methods: We enrolled patients diagnosed with MPA complicated by ILD according to the Chapel Hill Consensus definition from 2001 to 2023 in multiple institutions in the REVEAL cohort. All patients who were treated with immunosuppressive therapy were followed up, and those who relapsed with ILD were extracted in this study.
Introduction: Favipiravir is a known anti-influenza agent that has been used globally, especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This drug has been important for treating influenza and other emerging infectious diseases, although it was ultimately proven to be ineffective for COVID-19. Currently, no studies have reported the human-milk transfer of favipiravir at doses of 1,600-3,600 mg/day in the treatment of diseases, including COVID-19.
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- - The study investigates how different biological and targeted synthetic anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) affect kidney function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly focusing on the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- - Researchers followed 2,187 patients and evaluated the effects of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4-Ig (CTLA4-Ig), interleukin-6 receptor inhibitors (IL-6Ri), and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) on kidney health. They found that TNFi was linked to a lower CKD risk, while JAKi was associated with a higher risk.
- - The findings suggest that
Article Synopsis
- * Twenty-seven young men participated, undergoing tests for peak work rate, oxygen uptake, muscle strength, mass, quality, and oxygen extraction rate.
- * Results showed that muscle oxygen extraction rate (MOER) is significantly linked to aerobic capacity, making it a valuable measure that isn't influenced by body weight.
Background: Mepolizumab (MPZ) has demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA); however, few studies compare the disease course between patients treated with MPZ (MPZ group) and those who were not treated with MPZ (non-MPZ group) in real-world settings.
Objectives: This study aimed to compare the disease course and outcomes between the two groups and assess the long-term efficacy of MPZ in a multicenter cohort in Japan. Methods: We enrolled 113 EGPA patients registered in the cohort until June 2023.
Objectives: There are often discrepancies in the evaluation of disease activity between patients and physicians in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, we examined the factors that affect those evaluations.
Methods: Physician visual analogue scale (Ph-VAS), patient VAS (Pt-VAS), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2k), glucocorticoid (GC) usage and dose, age, Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index, and three patient-reported outcomes (SLE symptom checklist [SSC], short-form 36 questionnaire [SF-36], and LupusPRO) were obtained from a study performed in 2019 using 225 SLE outpatients of the Kyoto Lupus Cohort at Kyoto University Hospital.
Article Synopsis
- General anesthesia, specifically propofol, may weaken the immune system, which could lead to an increased risk of infections and affect cancer outcomes, although the exact mechanisms are still not well understood.
- In this study, propofol was shown to impair T cell metabolism, differentiation, and cytokine production, leading to decreased anti-tumor activity and reduced numbers of antigen-specific CD8 T cells during infections.
- Interestingly, while propofol hinders immune responses related to tumors and infections, it seems to beneficially affect certain inflammatory conditions in mouse models, suggesting a complex role in immune regulation.
Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD), also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a rare condition characterized by benign localized lymphadenopathy and clinical symptoms such as fever, sore throat, odynophagia, and leukopenia. Though the etiology of KFD is unknown, this condition is similar to viral infection, including increased infiltration of activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells. KFD exhibits three histological phases that reflect its progression status: proliferative, necrotic, and xanthomatous lesions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe develop and evaluate an artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithm that uses pre-rotation atherectomy (RA) intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images to automatically predict regions debulked by RA. A total of 2106 IVUS cross-sections from 60 patients with de novo severely calcified coronary lesions who underwent IVUS-guided RA were consecutively collected. The 2 identical IVUS images of pre- and post-RA were merged, and the orientations of the debulked segments identified in the merged images were marked on the outer circle of each IVUS image.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFData on the safety of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) in patients with renal impairment are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the safety of JAKis compared to biological (b) DMARDs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and renal impairment. We used a multi-centre observational registry of patients with RA in Japan (the ANSWER cohort).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To determine the current retention rate of mepolizumab (MPZ) and identify factors associated with drug retention in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) in the Kansai multicentre cohort (REVEAL cohort).
Methods: Sixty patients diagnosed with EGPA and treated with MPZ between December 2016 and June 2023 were enrolled. The clinical characteristics, including laboratory data, treatments administered, and disease course outcomes, were collected retrospectively.
Objectives: To investigate the predictive factors for difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T RA) and assess the efficacy of biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi).
Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on data from the ANSWER cohort comprising 3623 RA patients treated with bDMARDs or JAKi in Japan. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards modelling was used to analyse the hazard ratios (HRs) for treatment retention.
Article Synopsis
- Rheumatoid arthritis leads to joint inflammation, causing pain and swelling due to immune system issues, but only about 60% of patients reach remission despite advancements in treatment.
- Many patients experience varying states of health, from stable to unstable, making it important to analyze these transitions over time for better treatment outcomes.
- The study uses energy landscape analysis and time-series clustering to track patient progress, identifying patterns of stability that can inform treatment strategies, emphasizing the need for early detection and tailored care for those in unstable states.
We investigate a one-dimensional plasmonic crystal using momentum-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and cathodoluminescence (CL) techniques, which are complementary in terms of available optical information. The plasmonic crystal sample is fabricated from large aluminum grains through the focused ion beam method. This approach allows curving nanostructures with high crystallinity, providing platforms for detailed analysis of plasmonic nanostructures using both EELS and CL.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Infections are a critical concern for patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with serious infections (SIs) and infection-related mortality in patients with MPA, as well as the effect of glucocorticoid (GC) dose tapering on these outcomes.
Methods: This multicentre, retrospective, and observational study utilised data from a cohort of patients with MPA in Japan [Registry of Vasculitis Patients to Establish REAL World Evidence (REVEAL) cohort].
Article Synopsis
- - The study explored how poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) additives behave when adsorbing to surfaces and their effects during fluid lubrication in narrow gaps, using techniques like neutron reflectometry and viscometry.
- - Findings indicated that while the initial adsorption layer of the polymer was about 3 nm thick at rest, it significantly grew to over 100 nm when the oil flowed through larger microchannels over time.
- - The effective viscosity of the fluid increased at low shear rates, and the results suggested that the formation of inhomogeneous structures from PMA aggregates contributed to this resistance, particularly affecting flow behavior at low speeds.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to explore how large joint involvement (LJI) impacts disease activity and medication retention in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients starting biological therapies or Janus kinase inhibitors.
- Researchers analyzed data from 1721 patients, finding that LJI led to significant improvements in disease activity at 24 weeks, but patients with LJI had higher overall disease activity levels.
- Although drug retention rates were similar between patients with and without LJI, the findings suggest that early treatment strategies, particularly using interleukin-6 receptor inhibitors, could benefit those with LJI.
The ability to record every spike from every neuron in a behaving animal is one of the holy grails of neuroscience. Here, we report coming one step closer towards this goal with the development of an end-to-end pipeline that automatically tracks and extracts calcium signals from individual neurons in the cnidarian Hydra vulgaris. We imaged dually labeled (nuclear tdTomato and cytoplasmic GCaMP7s) transgenic Hydra and developed an open-source Python platform (TraSE-IN) for the Tracking and Spike Estimation of Individual Neurons in the animal during behavior.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA 58-year-old, right-handed man noticed difficulty in typing and speech. On day 3 after onset, the day of admission, he had frontal lobe dysfunction including verbal fluency impairment and impairment of recent memory, although he did not have apraxia or visual agnosia. Moreover, he had difficulty typing in romaji, especially words containing contracted or double consonant sounds, although he was able to do this before onset by visually checking the keyboard.
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- A multicentre, retrospective study analyzed the retention rates and reasons for stopping treatment in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis (EORA), comparing Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) to biologic disease-modifying drugs.
- The study found that IL-6 inhibitors had better retention rates than TNF inhibitors, while JAKi showed lower discontinuation due to ineffectiveness but higher rates of discontinuation due to adverse events compared to TNF inhibitors.
- The conclusions suggest that while IL-6i and JAKi are effective for EORA patients, the increased risk associated with JAKi requires careful consideration and a tailored treatment approach.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness and drug tolerability of biological DMARD (bDMARD) and Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) monotherapy in patients with RA in a multicentre cohort study.
Methods: Patients with RA for whom bDMARD/JAKi monotherapy without conventional synthetic DMARDs has been initiated were included. Monotherapy regimens were categorized as IL-6 receptor inhibitors (IL-6Ris), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 immunoglobulin (CTLA4Ig), JAKis, or TNF inhibitors (TNFis).
Background: To establish refined risk prediction models for mortality in patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) by using comprehensive clinical characteristics.
Methods: Data from the multicentre Japanese registry of patients with vasculitis (REVEAL cohort) were used in our analysis. In total, 194 patients with newly diagnosed MPA were included, and baseline demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment details were collected.
Article Synopsis
- This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of four JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib, baricitinib, peficitinib, and upadacitinib) in treating rheumatoid arthritis in a real-world setting, focusing on reducing bias and adjusting for patient characteristics.
- A total of 622 patients were analyzed, with no significant differences found in retention rates, disease activity scores, or remission rates among the various treatment groups after 6 months.
- Key predictive factors for treatment efficacy included baseline disease activity and previous treatment history, but overall, the four drugs showed similar effectiveness and safety in managing rheumatoid arthritis.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to assess changes in disease activity among elderly RA patients over 75 years old in Japan from 2014 to 2021.
- Data showed an increase in the percentage of elderly patients achieving remission and low disease activity (LDA), with rates rising from 62.2% to 78.2% during that time.
- Factors that positively influenced remission and LDA included the use of methotrexate, while glucocorticoid use and previous b/tsDMARDs treatments negatively impacted these outcomes.
The ability to record every spike from every neuron in a behaving animal is one of the holy grails of neuroscience. Here, we report coming one step closer towards this goal with the development of an end-to-end pipeline that automatically tracks and extracts calcium signals from individual neurons in the cnidarian . We imaged dually labeled (nuclear tdTomato and cytoplasmic GCaMP7s) transgenic and developed an open-source Python platform (TraSE-IN) for the Tracking and Spike Estimation of Individual Neurons in the animal during behavior.
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