Comparison of direct sequencing and Invader assay for Y93H mutation and response to interferon-free therapy in hepatitis C virus genotype 1b.

Background And Aim: Virologic failure of interferon-free therapy has been associated with Y93H mutation in the non-structure 5A region in hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b, and screening is recommended. A simple assay based on Q-Invader technology was developed for Y93H mutant screening to reduce cost and effort. The present study sought to compare two methods of detection of Y93H mutation and to evaluate the effect of Y93H mutation on response to interferon-free therapy.

Significant association of RNF213 p.R4810K, a moyamoya susceptibility variant, with coronary artery disease.

Background: The genetic architecture of coronary artery disease has not been fully elucidated, especially in Asian countries. Moyamoya disease is a progressive cerebrovascular disease that is reported to be complicated by coronary artery disease. Because most Japanese patients with moyamoya disease carry the p.

The Feasibility and Safety of Separate Carotid Artery Stenting Using the Restrict Protective Method for Bilateral Carotid Stenosis.

Background And Objective: The treatment strategy for bilateral carotid stenosis (BCS) is not clear. We report our experience of treating 12 patients with BCS using separate carotid artery stenting (CAS) using the restrict protective method. The order of treatment site and the protective method are also discussed.

Branched-chain amino acids alleviate hepatic steatosis and liver injury in choline-deficient high-fat diet induced NASH mice.

Background: For successful treatment for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), it may be important to treat the individual causative factors. At present, however, there is no established treatment for this disease. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) have been used to treat patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Cytokeratin 13, Cytokeratin 17, and Ki-67 Expression in Human Acquired Cholesteatoma and Their Correlation With Its Destructive Capacity.

Objectives: Cholesteatoma is a nonneoplastic destructive lesion of the temporal bone with debated pathogenesis and bone resorptive mechanism. Both molecular and cellular events chiefly master its activity. Continued research is necessary to clarify factors related to its aggressiveness.

Core I97L mutation in conjunction with P79Q is associated with persistent low HBV DNA and HBs antigen clearance in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Objectives: When considering treatment for chronic hepatitis B (CHB), it is important to discriminate between patients with persistent low HBV DNA and patients with active hepatitis, who may proceed to cirrhosis. In this study, we sought to identify mutations in patients expected to have persistent low HBV DNA and ultimately exhibit clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).

Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 33 CHB genotype C patients, divided based on HBV DNA and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels following observation for >2 years: Group A (n=10), transient HBV DNA ≥5.

Clinical characteristics and molecular analysis of hepatitis B virus reactivation in hepatitis B surface antigen-negative patients during or after immunosuppressive or cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Background And Aim: Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients treated with immunosuppressive or cytotoxic chemotherapy is well known and has emerged as an important clinical issue. The risk is low, but reactivation of HBV in HBsAg-negative patients after resolution of HBV infection also occurs; however, the clinical and virological characteristics remain somewhat unclear. We investigated HBsAg-negative patients who developed HBV reactivation during or after immunosuppressive or cytotoxic chemotherapy to clarify the clinical and virological features.

Comparison of computational fluid dynamics findings with intraoperative microscopy findings in unruptured intracranial aneurysms- An initial analysis.

Context: The increase in the detection of unruptured cerebral aneurysms has led to management dilemma. Prediction of risk based on the size of the aneurysm is not always accurate. There is no objective way of predicting rupture of aneurysm so far.

Intraoperative rupture in the surgical treatment of patients with intracranial aneurysms.

Intraoperative rerupture (IOR) during clipping of cerebral aneurysms is a difficult complication of microneurosurgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of IOR and analyze the strategies for controlling profound hemorrhage. A total of 165 patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms and 46 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) treated surgically between April 2010 and March 2011, were reviewed.

A late foveal response component of multifocal electroretinograms in healthy subjects.

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of the late foveal response component (lfrc) that presents on the first slice of the second-order kernel (K2.1) in multifocal electroretinograms (mfERGs).

Methods: mfERGs with 37 hexagonal stimulus elements were obtained from 27 healthy subjects under a stimulus intensity of 2.

State-of-Art Surgical Treatment of Dissecting Anterior Circulation Intracranial Aneurysms.

Intracranial dissecting aneurysms (IDAs) are an important cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage, stroke, or compression of intracranial structures. Since the availability of endovascular treatment and the advantage of intraprocedural anticoagulation, an endovascular strategy has become the mainstay of their therapy. But in some cases selective aneurysm obliteration by the endovascular approach is impossible or associated with an unacceptable risk of morbidity.

Antihypertensive efficacy and safety of the angiotensin receptor blocker azilsartan in elderly patients with hypertension.

Objectives: The number of elderly patients with hypertension has been steadily increasing. However, there are limited data on the safety and efficacy of the new angiotensin type 1 receptor blocker (ARB) azilsartan in elderly patients with hypertension. We investigated the clinical efficacy and safety of azilsartan in this population.

Endomyocardial radial strain rate imaging during dobutamine stress echocardiography for the evaluation of contractile reserve in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Purpose: Myocardial contractile reserve is associated with clinical prognosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We assessed myocardial contractile reserve using tissue Doppler strain rate imaging with dobutamine stress echocardiography in DCM patients.

Methods: Simultaneous echocardiography and left ventricular (LV) catheterization during dobutamine stress were performed in 20 patients with DCM, and echocardiography was performed in 31 control subjects.

Brain natriuretic peptide as a potential novel marker of salt-sensitivity in chronic kidney disease patients without cardiac dysfunction.

Although the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is counter-balanced by a salt-sensitive mechanism in the hypertensive state, both are reported to be up-regulated in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. We conducted this study to evaluate the associations among the RAS, renal function, hypertension, and atherosclerosis, as well as to identify markers for salt-sensitivity. A total of 213 pre-dialysis CKD patients with preserved cardiac function (EF >50 %) were enrolled.

Urinary soluble CD163 level reflects glomerular inflammation in human lupus nephritis.

Background: In addition to classically activated macrophages that have effector roles in tissue injury, alternatively activated M2 macrophages are involved in the resolution of inflammation in animal models of kidney disease. To clarify the clinical relevance of macrophage phenotypes in human glomerular diseases, we evaluated the renal accumulation of macrophages and plasma and urine levels of CD163, an M2 marker, in lupus nephritis (LN) patients.

Methods: Kidney biopsies and plasma and urine samples were obtained from LN patients who underwent renal biopsy between 2008 and 2012.

Usefulness of Embolization for Iatrogenic Dural Arteriovenous Fistula Associated with Recurrent Chronic Subdural Hematoma: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Refractory chronic subdural hematomas due to iatrogenic dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) are difficult to treat. We report our experience and propose a guideline on basis of a literature review for the usefulness of embolization of middle meningeal artery (MMA) for the treatment of the same.

Case Description: We report a case with right hemiparesis and aphasia 1 month after a fall from a bicycle.

Surgical treatment of unruptured dissecting intracranial aneurysms of vertebral-posterior inferior cerebellar artery region.

A lack of published surgical experience and higher symptomatic recurrence than previously recognized prompted the authors to present their experience with the surgical treatment of unruptured intracranial dissecting aneurysms (UIDAs). Hospital records, neuroimaging studies, operative reports, and follow-up records were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent surgical exploration of the lesion with proximal clipping of the parent artery through a far-lateral suboccipital craniotomy with or without partial condylar resection.

DSS colitis promotes tumorigenesis and fibrogenesis in a choline-deficient high-fat diet-induced NASH mouse model.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients progress to liver cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several lines of evidence indicate that accumulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and disruption of gut microbiota play contributory roles in HCC. Moreover, in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis model in mice, a high-fat diet increases portal LPS level and promotes hepatic inflammation and fibrosis.

Quantitative diagnosis of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial pneumonia using thoracic computed tomography images.

Patients with polymyositis (PM) or dermatomyositis (DM) frequently show interstitial pneumonia (IP), which is sometimes rapidly progressive or resistant to treatment, thereby significantly affecting the prognosis. The diagnosis and response evaluation of IP are commonly performed qualitatively based on imaging findings, which may cause disagreement among rheumatologists in the evaluation of early lesions and atypical interstitial changes. To determine whether IP could be diagnosed in a quantitative manner during the early stage of PM/DM using a workstation that allows quantitative image processing.

Early Clinical Response after 2 Weeks of Sorafenib Therapy Predicts Outcomes and Anti-Tumor Response in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background & Aims: We evaluated the relationship between the early clinical response after 2 weeks of sorafenib therapy and the outcomes and anti-tumor response in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: Fifty-seven patients who had intrahepatic hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma and Child-Pugh (CP) class A disease at baseline were enrolled in this prospective, multicenter, observational, non-interventional study. As an early clinical response after 2 weeks of sorafenib therapy, changes in intra-tumor blood flow on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, and remnant liver function were investigated.

Epigenome-wide association study suggests that SNPs in the promoter region of RETN influence plasma resistin level via effects on DNA methylation at neighbouring sites.

Aims/hypothesis: To investigate epigenetic regulation of the plasma concentration of resistin, we performed an epigenome-wide association study for this variable and DNA methylation (DNAm) in an elderly Japanese cohort and then assessed the relation of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the plasma resistin concentration to DNAm level at identified sites.

Methods: The association of plasma resistin level with DNAm status was examined in 191 nondiabetic elderly men with the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array. The association between DNAm status at specific sites in the flanking region of the resistin gene (RETN) and RETN mRNA abundance was then evaluated with a public data set for 1202 monocyte samples from a multi-ethnic cohort.

Frailty may be a risk marker for adverse outcome in patients with congestive heart failure.

Aims: To examine the availability of frailty concept with objective criteria for risk stratification in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).

Methods And Results: Study design was secondary analysis of our CHF cohort. We selected 181 patients who completed clinical assessments and were successfully followed 2-year post discharge.