Expression of c-jun/c-fos mRNA Indicates Persistent Myocardial Stretch During Asphyxia-Induced Cardiac Arrest.

Right ventricular dysfunction is a key clinical issue for the viability of donation-after-circulatory-death (DCD) heart transplantation. DCD hearts with volume overload have the potential to exhibit aggravated right ventricular dysfunction following heart transplantation. The c-jun/c-fos mRNAs are genes that immediately respond to myocardial cell stretch.

Choice of and response to treatment in patients with early-diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis: Real-world data from an inception cohort in Japan (NICER-J).

Objective: Various guidelines recommend that patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) try to achieve clinical remission within 6 months, and early therapeutic intervention is important to this end. This study aimed to investigate short-term treatment outcomes of patients with early-diagnosed RA in clinical practice and to examine predictive factors for achieving remission.

Methods: Of the 210 patients enrolled in the multicenter RA inception cohort, 172 patients who were followed up to 6 months after treatment initiation (baseline) were included.

Relationship between locomotive syndrome and frailty in rheumatoid arthritis patients by locomotive syndrome stage.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between locomotive syndrome (LS) and frailty in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: Subjects were 538 RA patients (female, 72.9%; mean age ± standard deviation, 66.

Activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 protects articular cartilage against inflammatory responses via CaMKK/AMPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) plays an important role in chondrocytes via Ca signaling. However, its role in the progression of osteoarthritis is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of TRPV4 activation on articular cartilage and chondrocytes stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β.

Comparison of the effects of baricitinib and tocilizumab on disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a propensity score matching analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of baricitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor, and tocilizumab, a monoclonal anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody, on disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to investigate the influence of inflammation on improvement in patient global assessment (PGA) of disease activity.

Methods: This study was performed based on data from a multicenter registry, and included 284 and 113 patients treated with tocilizumab and baricitinib, respectively, who were observed for longer than 24 weeks. Propensity score matching was performed to address potential treatment-selection bias.

Metabolic changes in synovial cells in early inflammation: Involvement of CREB phosphorylation in the anti-inflammatory effect of 2-deoxyglucose.

The involvement of metabolic reprogramming has been suggested to contribute to the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Glycolysis is enhanced in synovial cell metabolism in RA patients. Inhibitors of glycolysis are known to have anti-inflammatory effects.

Higher doses of methotrexate associated with discontinuation of oral glucocorticoids after initiation of biological DMARDs: A retrospective observational study based on data from a Japanese multicenter registry study.

Objective: Glucocorticoids are important drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. We recommend glucocorticoid discontinuation as soon as possible given the associated side-effects, but many patients continue to take oral glucocorticoids long-term. The present study aimed to explore factors associated with glucocorticoid discontinuation at 52 weeks after initiating biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs).

Predictors for clinical effectiveness of baricitinib in rheumatoid arthritis patients in routine clinical practice: data from a Japanese multicenter registry.

This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effectiveness and safety profiles of baricitinib and explore factors associated with improved short-term effectiveness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical settings. A total of 113 consecutive RA patients who had been treated with baricitinib were registered in a Japanese multicenter registry and followed for at least 24 weeks. Mean age was 66.

A retrospective analysis of the relationship between anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody and the effectiveness of abatacept in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of abatacept (ABA) by anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACPA) status on disease activity as well as radiographic progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical settings. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from a multicenter registry. Data from a total of 553 consecutive RA patients treated with intravenous ABA were included.

Periarticular osteophyte formation protects against total knee arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis patients with advanced joint damage.

Objective: Periarticular osteophyte formation is observed during the repair of damaged joints in rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, little is known about its clinical and functional roles. This study aimed to determine the influence of periarticular osteophyte formation on the incidence of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) (a surrogate for long-term outcomes of joint destruction) in patients with RA.

Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study included a total of 130 symptomatic (tender and/or swollen) knee joints in 80 patients starting biologics.

Relationship between disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis and development of locomotive syndrome: A five-year longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: This study aimed to longitudinally evaluate the association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and locomotive syndrome (LS) in RA patients using the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25).

Methods: Subjects were 58 RA patients (female, 48 (82.8%); mean age, 60.

Improvement in matrix metalloproteinase-3 independently predicts low disease activity at 52 weeks in bio-switch rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with abatacept.

Objectives: To explore predictive factors including MMP-3 for achievement of low disease activity (LDA) at 52 weeks in bio-switch rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with abatacept, for whom obtaining a good clinical response can be difficult.

Methods: Participants were 423 consecutive patients with RA treated with abatacept who were observed for longer than 52 weeks and registered in the TBCR, a Japanese multicentre registry system. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to study factors that predict the achievement of LDA at 52 weeks in bio-naïve (n=234) and bio-switch (n=189) groups.

Acute mitral valve endocarditis at the 24th gestational week.

Infective endocarditis during pregnancy and subsequent cardiac surgery are rare and carry a high mortality risk for both the mother and fetus. We report our experience with a previously healthy, 22-year-old woman affected by acute active mitral endocarditis due to Streptococcus gordonii at the 24th gestational week, who wished to continue with the pregnancy. Due to cardiogenic shock, an intra-aortic balloon pump was inserted.

Spontaneous ascending aortic rupture in a pregnant woman with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is an autosomal dominant disorder that affects 1 in 3000 individuals. Vascular involvement in NF-1 is a well-recognized, but rare, feature of this disease. In pregnant women, the risk of aortic dissection or rupture is elevated during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

H-D exchange reaction on benzene ring of polystyrene in hydrothermal deuterium oxide with platinum(IV) oxide catalyst.

Benzene rings of polystyrene samples are labelled with deuterium oxide and catalytic amount of platinum(iv) oxide under hydrothermal conditions.

Palladium-catalyzed decarboxylation and decarbonylation under hydrothermal conditions: decarboxylative deuteration.

[reaction: see text] Decarboxylation of free carboxylic acid was performed by Pd/C catalyst under hydrothermal water (250 degrees C/4 MPa). Under the hydrothermal conditions of deuterium oxide, decarbonylative deuteration was observed to give fully deuterated hydrocarbons from carboxylic acids or aldehydes.