Initiation of Psychotropic Drugs in Spouses of Patients With Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease: A Matched Cohort Study.

Objectives: The diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) can cause emotional stress not only to the patients themselves but also to their spouses. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of psychiatric disorders in spouses of EOAD patients, using psychotropic drug initiation as a surrogate indicator.

Methods: A cohort study was conducted using a Japanese claims database, with spouses of EOAD patients (exposed spouses) matched with spouses of non-EOAD individuals (reference spouses) up to a 1:10 ratio.

Association between the prognosis and comorbidity of active cancer in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Prognosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) has improved after the availability of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) and approved drugs. However, the clinical effects of cancer, which is one of the associated medical conditions of CTEPH, remain unclear. We aimed to investigate prognosis in patients with CTEPH and comorbid cancer.

Direct photoreception by pituitary endocrine cells regulates hormone release and pigmentation.

The recent discovery of nonvisual photoreceptors in various organs has raised expectations for uncovering their roles and underlying mechanisms. In this work, we identified a previously unrecognized hormone-releasing mechanism in the pituitary of the Japanese rice fish (medaka) induced by light. Ca imaging analysis revealed that melanotrophs, a type of pituitary endocrine cell that secretes melanocyte-stimulating hormone, robustly increase the concentration of intracellular Ca during short-wavelength light exposure.

Evaluation of Lung Adverse Events Associated With Lenvatinib: A Post-marketing Surveillance Study.

Background/aim: Despite the seriousness of lung adverse events (AEs) associated with lenvatinib, comprehensive data on these events remain limited. This study was conducted to examine the disproportionality, time to onset, incidence rates, and outcomes of lenvatinib-associated lung AEs using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database.

Patients And Methods: We analysed data for the period from April 2004 to May 2023.

Unilateral Bleomycin-induced Interstitial Pneumonitis Mouse Model With Both a Healthy and a Diseased Lung.

Background/aim: A standard mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis has been created by intratracheal or intraperitoneal administration of bleomycin. However, a difficulty presented by this traditional method is its high mortality rate of more than 50% after bleomycin administration. In this study, we aimed to establish a unilateral lung disease model and to assess its feasibility and usefulness.

Disproportionality Analysis of Hepatotoxic and Gastrointestinal Adverse Events Associated With Nintedanib Using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) Database.

Background/aim: Nintedanib may cause adverse events such as elevated liver enzyme levels, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. These adverse events should be managed appropriately as they affect the quality of life of patients. This study has aimed to analyze patient characteristics and time-to-onset of adverse events caused by nintedanib using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database.

Evaluation of Times-to-onset and Outcomes of Lung Adverse Events Associated With Sorafenib Using JADER.

Background/aim: Despite the seriousness of lung adverse events (AEs) associated with sorafenib, comprehensive data are limited. This study was conducted to examine the disproportionality, times to onset, incidence rates, and outcomes of sorafenib-associated lung AEs, using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database.

Patients And Methods: Data for the period between April 2004 and May 2023 were analyzed.

Metabolic Syndrome and Somatic Composition: A Large Cross-sectional Analysis.

Background/aim: To elucidate the relationship between metabolic syndrome (Mets) and somatic composition [fat mass, fat-free (FF) mass, and fat to fat-free (F-FF) ratio] among health checkup recipients (7,776 males and 10,121 females).

Patients And Methods: We classified study subjects into four types considering Japanese criteria for Mets; Type A is for males with waist circumference (WC) <85 cm and females with WC <90 cm, Type B is for males with WC ≥85 cm and females with WC ≥90 cm, but without any metabolic abnormalities, Type C is for males with WC ≥85 cm and females with WC ≥90 cm and one metabolic disorder (pre-Mets), and Type D is Mets. We compared baseline characteristics among types of A, B, C, and D.

Persistent body-weight change on achalasia and peroral endoscopic myotomy: a multicenter cohort study.

Background: The distribution of body weight in patients with achalasia and after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has not been investigated. The role of body weight assessment after treatment remains unclear.

Methods: Using the multicenter achalasia cohort, the frequency of underweight (body mass index [BMI] < 18.

Treatment of Unruptured Large and Giant Carotid Cavernous Aneurysms in Japan at the Time of Flow Diverter Introduction: A Nationwide, Multicenter Survey by the Japanese Society on Surgery for Cerebral Stroke.

Background: Flow diverters (FDs) have been introduced for the management of large or giant cavernous carotid aneurysms (CCAs) in addition to conventional modalities, dramatically changing treatment strategies. The aim of this study was to examine the management of unruptured large/giant CCAs in Japan when FDs were being introduced using a nationwide survey.

Methods: 540 unruptured large/giant CCAs treated at neurosurgical teaching departments in Japan between 2012 and 2016 were retrospectively studied.

Oral intake of degalactosylated whey protein increases peripheral blood telomere length in young and aged mice.

In order to elucidate novel actions of degalactosylated whey protein (D-WP) in comparison with intact whey protein (WP), the effects of oral intake of D-WP on peripheral blood telomere length and telomerase were examined in young and aged mice. In young mice, peripheral blood telomere length was significantly elongated following oral intake of D-WP for 4 weeks. mRNA expression of both telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomerase RNA component (TERC) was significantly increased in the peripheral blood following oral intake of D-WP for 4 weeks.

Receptor-independent regulation of Gα13 by alpha-1-antitrypsin C-terminal peptides.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), a circulating serine protease inhibitor, is an acute inflammatory response protein with anti-inflammatory functions. The C-terminal peptides of AAT are found in various tissues and have been proposed as putative bioactive peptides with multiple functions, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. We previously reported that a mouse AAT C-terminal peptide of 35 amino acids (mAAT-C) penetrates plasma membrane and associates guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit alpha 13 (Gα13).

Changes in Physical Activity Across Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Based on Smartphone Step Count Data Linked to a Japanese Claims Database: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Although physical activity (PA) is recommended for patients with cancer, changes in PA across cancer diagnosis and treatment have not been objectively evaluated.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment on PA levels.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using a Japanese claims database provided by DeSC Healthcare Inc, in which daily step count data, derived from smartphone pedometers, are linked to the claims data.

Absorption of acylated anthocyanins from purple yam extract in rats.

Purple yam (Dioscorea alata L.) is a tuber widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics. We previously isolated several acylated anthocyanins from purple yam.

Japanese clinical practice guidelines for oral cancer, 2023.

The Japanese Society of Oral Oncology and Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons have jointly developed clinical practice guidelines for oral cancer (oral squamous cell carcinoma) to improve and standardize the quality of oral cancer treatment in Japan. The first, second, and third editions were published in 2009, 2013, and 2019, respectively, and the 2023 edition was recently developed. In the development of the 2023 edition, 60 clinical questions (CQs) were listed.

A nonsecretory antimicrobial peptide mediates inflammatory organ damage in Drosophila renal tubules.

An excessive immune response damages organs, yet its molecular mechanism is incompletely understood. Here, we screened a factor mediating organ damage upon genetic activation of the innate immune pathway using Drosophila renal tubules. We found that an antimicrobial peptide, Attacin-D (AttD), causes organ damage upon immune deficiency (Imd) pathway activation in the Malpighian tubules.

Relationship between severe radiodermatitis and skin barrier functions in patients with head and neck cancer: A prospective observational study.

Objective: Severe radiodermatitis with erosion is a painful condition that affects quality of life; therefore, developing methods for its prevention is an urgent issue. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the morphological characteristics of the development and healing processes of severe radiodermatitis in patients with head and neck cancer and to explore the association between skin barrier function and development of severe radiodermatitis.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, the cervical regions of patients with head and neck cancer who underwent radiotherapy at a university hospital from October 2022 to March 2023 were photographed, and morphological characteristics of the development and healing process of severe radiodermatitis were extracted using the qualitative sketch method.

Intravenous administration of Y-labeled polyoxazoline combined with tumor heating potently inhibits tumor growth in mice.

The basic requirements for the development of radiopharmaceuticals for radionuclide therapy of tumors include marked tumor-specific accumulation and long-term intratumoral retention. We have previously reported an indium-111 (In)-labeled thermoresponsive polymer (polyoxazoline (POZ)) that is soluble at body temperature with rapid clearance from normal tissues but self-aggregates in the tumor upon tumor heating treatment. POZ accumulated in the tumor via self-aggregation under hyperthermic conditions and was retained after stopping heat exposure.

The Impact of Migraine on the Whole Life Course of Patients: Results from the OVERCOME (Japan) 2nd Study.

Introduction: The impact of migraine on patients' lives, including challenges they face before getting access to appropriate medical management, is not well understood. The ObserVational survey of the Epidemiology, tReatment, and Care Of MigrainE [OVERCOME (Japan)] 2nd study was conducted to provide information regarding burden and experience with migraine throughout the life course.

Methods: This cross-sectional, population-based, nationwide online survey was conducted in adults with or without migraine.

The Long-Term Cost-Effectiveness of Tirzepatide 5 mg versus Dulaglutide 0.75 mg for the Treatment of People with Type 2 Diabetes in Japan.

Introduction: This analysis aimed to evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of tirzepatide 5 mg versus dulaglutide 0.75 mg (both administered once weekly) in people not achieving glycemic control on metformin, based on the results of the head-to-head SURPASS J-mono trial from a Japanese healthcare payer perspective.

Methods: A cost-utility analysis was performed over a 50-year time horizon using an implementation of the UKPDS Outcomes Model 2 developed in Microsoft Excel.