Prognostic value of Toll-like receptor 4 on human monocyte subsets combined with computed tomography-adapted Leaman score assessing coronary artery disease.

Background: Upregulation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) is associated with coronary plaque vulnerability assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Computed tomography-adapted Leaman score (CT-LeSc) is an independent long-term predictor of cardiac events. The relationship between the TLR-4 expression of CD14 ++ CD16 + monocytes and future cardiac events is unknown.

Impact of pre-existing interstitial lung abnormal shadow on lung injury development and severity in patients of non-small cell lung cancer treated with osimertinib.

Background: First-generation epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) sometimes causes lung injury, thereby affecting survival. Although pre-existing interstitial lung abnormal shadow (pre-ILS) increases the risk of lung injury by EGFR-TKIs, its impact on osimertinib, a third-generation EGFR-TKI, remains unknown.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective cohort study consecutively enrolled patients of EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer treated with osimertinib.

Prognostic Value of Human Peripheral Monocyte Subsets for Future Coronary Events in Patients Without Significant Coronary Artery Stenosis.

Background: Monocytes in human peripheral blood are heterogeneous and can be divided into 2 groups, inflammatory and pro-inflammatory, according to the differential expression of CD14 and CD16. Pro-inflammatory monocytes (CD14CD16) seem to contribute to the development of coronary artery disease. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of specific human peripheral monocyte subsets in the development of future coronary events.

Comparison of clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention versus optimal medical therapy based on gray-zone fractional flow reserve in stable angina patients with intermediate coronary artery stenosis (COMFORTABLE prospective study): Study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background: Even in the current drug-eluting stent era, revascularization for coronary stenosis with fractional flow reserve (FFR) between 0.75 and 0.80, the so-called "gray zone," is a matter of debate.

Real-world safety and efficacy of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir for elderly patients.

Background And Aim: In September 2015, sofosbuvir and ledipasvir were approved for clinical use in Japan for patients infected with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus. We conducted a postmarketing prospective cohort study to elucidate the safety and efficacy of this therapy in a real-world setting.

Methods: We treated 509 patients using standard doses of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir for 12 weeks.

Clinical value of enzyme immunoassay that detects rubella-specific immunoglobulin M immediately after disease onset.

A total of 300 patients with nucleic acid test-confirmed rubella, mostly adults, were investigated to determine the clinical value of a rubella-specific IgM test using an EIA kit. IgM titers increased after rash onset, the median IgM titer being significantly higher 3 days post-onset than on previous days (P < 0.0001).

Nodular gastritis in association with gastric cancer development before and after eradication.

Background And Aim: Nodular gastritis is caused by infection and is associated with the development of diffuse-type gastric cancer. This study examined the clinical characteristics of patients with nodular gastritis, including cancer incidence before and after H. pylori eradication.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol as a therapeutic target for residual risk in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: The current guideline recommends lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) for the primary management of dyslipidemia in patients at high-risk of cardiovascular events. Patients who have achieved LDL-C levels below the recommended targets may still experience cardiovascular events, suggesting additional therapeutic targets beyond LDL-C. The aim of this study was to investigate whether high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels had an impact on plaque stabilization in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Efficacy of Paclitaxel in a Patient with Inoperable Pulmonary Vein Leiomyosarcoma.

Pulmonary vein leiomyosarcoma is extremely rare and has a poor prognosis. Surgical resection with a wide margin seems to offer the only chance of cure. The role of adjuvant therapy is controversial, and the exact efficacy of chemotherapy has not been observed.

Non-neural granular cell tumor of the uterine corpus mimicking uterine leiomyoma: A case report.

Non-neural granular cell tumors (GCTs) are clinically rare, whereas cases arising in the uterine corpus are exceedingly rare. Only three uterine cervical cases of GCTs have been reported to date and, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports of GCT of the uterine corpus in the literature. We herein describe the first case of non-neural GCT arising from the uterine corpus reported to date.

Association of Toll-Like Receptor 4 on Human Monocyte Subsets and Vulnerability Characteristics of Coronary Plaque as Assessed by 64-Slice Multidetector Computed Tomography.

Background: Although Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) is involved in monocyte activation in patients with accelerated forms of atherosclerosis, the relationship between the expression of TLR-4 on circulating monocytes and coronary plaque vulnerability has not previously been evaluated. We investigated this relationship using 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP).

Methods and results: We enrolled 65 patients with SAP who underwent MDCT.

Resistance to Thyroid Hormone Complicated with Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiomyopathy in a Patient with a TRβ Mutation.

Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is a genetic disorder characterized by reduced tissue responsiveness to thyroid hormone. We herein describe a 60-year old man who presented with the clinical features of cardiomyopathy, diabetes mellitus and elevated thyroid hormones with unsuppressed thyroid stimulating hormone. A genetic analysis of thyroid hormone receptor (TR) revealed a missense mutation (A268D) in the TRβ gene.

Versatility of a localized surface plasmon resonance-based gold nanoparticle-alloyed quantum dot nanobiosensor for immunofluorescence detection of viruses.

Flu infection, caused by the influenza virus, constitutes a serious threat to human lives worldwide. A rapid, sensitive and specific diagnosis is urgently needed for point-of-care treatment and to control the rapid spread of this disease. In this study, an ultrasensitive, rapid and specific localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)-induced immunofluorescence nanobiosensor has been developed for the influenza virus based on a gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-induced quantum dot (QD) fluorescence signal.

Size-controlled preparation of peroxidase-like graphene-gold nanoparticle hybrids for the visible detection of norovirus-like particles.

A hybrid structure of graphene-gold nanoparticles (Grp-Au NPs) was designed as a new nanoprobe for colorimetric immunoassays. This hybrid structure was prepared using chloroauric acid, sodium formate and Grp flakes at room temperature. Au NPs attached strongly onto the Grp surface, and their size was controlled by varying the sodium formate concentration.

Norovirus epidemics caused by new GII.2 chimera viruses in 2012-2014 in Japan.

The new GII.2 variant collected from May 2012-March 2014 consisted of GII.15 and GII.

Needle guides for venous catheter insertion during chest compressions: a crossover simulation trial.

Purpose: Recent guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation emphasize that all rescuers should minimize the interruption of chest compressions, even for intravenous access. We assessed the utility of needle guides during ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization (US-CVC) with chest compressions via simulation.

Methods: Twenty-five anesthesiologists with more than 2years of experience performed US-CVC on a manikin with or without a needle guide and with or without chest compressions.

MicroRNAs and cardiovascular diseases.

Coronary artery diseases (CAD) and heart failure have high mortality rate in the world, although much progress has been made in this field in last two decades. There is still a clinical need for a novel diagnostic approach and a therapeutic strategy to decrease the incidence of CAD. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved noncoding small RNA molecules that regulate a large fraction of the genome by binding to complementary messenger RNA sequences, resulting in posttranscriptional gene silencing.

Effects of bifidobacterial supplementation to pregnant women and infants in the prevention of allergy development in infants and on fecal microbiota.

Background: Probiotic administration may be a useful method for preventing allergies in infants; however, there have been controversial results about the efficacy. We investigated the effects of bifidobacterial supplementation on the risk of developing allergic diseases in the Japanese population.

Methods: In an open trial, we gave Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and Bifidobacterium longum BB536 prenatally to 130 mothers beginning 1 month prior to delivery and postnatally to their infants for 6 months.

[A case of unresectable rectal cancer with severe pelvic infiltration responding to FOLFOX].

The patient was a 54-year-old male with a huge advanced rectal cancer tumor. Abdominal CT showed liver metastasis and local progressive cancer of the rectum measuring 13 × 9 × 7 cm in diameter, which invaded the urinary bladder and sacrum. We established a diagnosis of unresectable rectal cancer and then performed sigmoid colostomy.