Higher risk of poor functional outcome and unfavorable clinical events for late-onset rheumatoid arthritis: results from the IORRA cohort.

Objectives: To compare treatment outcomes in patients with late-onset rheumatoid arthritis (LORA) and younger-onset rheumatoid arthritis (YORA).

Methods: We analyzed patients diagnosed with early rheumatoid arthritis (disease duration < 2 years) between 2000 and 2016 in the IORRA cohort. Patients were categorized into LORA (onset at ≥ 65 years) and YORA (onset at < 65 years).

Long-term changes in carotid intima-media thickness according to baseline blood pressure level: J-STARS Echo study.

Background And Aims: We aimed to investigate long-term changes in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) based on baseline blood pressure (BP) levels in non-cardioembolic stroke patients.

Methods: Patients aged 45-80 years with dyslipidemia who were not on statins before enrollment and had experienced a non-cardioembolic stroke were assigned to either the pravastatin group or the control group in a randomized trial. Patients were classified into three groups according to BP levels: normal BP (N-group: systolic BP [sBP] <140 mmHg and diastolic BP [dBP] <90 mmHg), highly elevated BP (G2 group: sBP ≥160 mmHg or dBP ≥100 mmHg), and mildly elevated BP (G1 group: the remaining patients).

Laboratory markers predicting tofacitinib efficacy in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A pooled analysis of Phase 2/3 randomised controlled clinical trials.

Objectives: We characterised early changes in laboratory parameters in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and assessed whether these changes at Month (M)1 were predictive of tofacitinib efficacy at M3.

Methods: This post hoc analysis included data from Japanese patients with RA receiving tofacitinib or placebo pooled from two Phase (P)2 studies in Japan (NCT00603512; NCT00687193) and one global P3 study (NCT00847613). Outcomes: changes from baseline in laboratory parameters (Week 2 and M1/3); efficacy endpoints (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints, based on C-reactive protein [DAS28-4(CRP)], DAS28-4, based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate [DAS28-4(ESR)], and American College of Rheumatology-N index) at M3.

A Systematic Search and Review of Registered Pharmacological Therapies Investigated to Improve Outcomes after a Stroke.

Introduction: Stroke burden is largely due to long-term impairments requiring prolonged care and loss of productivity. We aim to identify and assess studies of different registered pharmacological therapies as treatments for improving post-stroke impairments and/or disabilities.

Methods: In a systematic search and review (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022376973), studies of treatments that have been investigated as recovery-enhancing or recovery-promoting treatments in adult patients who had suffered a stroke will be searched for, screened, and reviewed based on the following: participants (P): adult humans, aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with stroke; interventions (I): registered or marketed pharmacological therapies that have been investigated as recovery-enhancing or recovery-promoting treatments in stroke; comparators (C): active or placebo or no comparator; outcomes (O): stroke-related neurological impairments and functional/disability assessments.

Antiplatelets for Cardiovascular Disease in Non-valvular AF with Rivaroxaban: A Subanalysis of the EXPAND Study.

Aim: In this subanalysis of the EXPAND study, we evaluated the risks and benefits of rivaroxaban plus antiplatelet therapy (APT) for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) complicated by stable coronary artery disease (CAD), ischemic stroke, or peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Methods: From the EXPAND study population (n=7,141), patients with NVAF complicated by stable CAD (n=886), ischemic stroke (n=1,231), or PAD (n=160) were included. Patients complicated by any of them were set as ALL (n=2,030).

Niraparib in Japanese patients with heavily pretreated, homologous recombination-deficient ovarian cancer: final results of a multicenter phase 2 study.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of niraparib in Japanese women with heavily pretreated ovarian cancer.

Methods: This was the follow-up analysis of a phase 2, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study in Japanese women with homologous recombination-deficient, platinum-sensitive, relapsed, high-grade serous epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who had completed 3-4 lines of chemotherapy and were poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor naïve. Participants received niraparib (starting dose, 300 mg) once daily in continuous 28-day cycles until objective disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or consent withdrawal.

Efficacy and safety of febuxostat in Japanese paediatric patients with hyperuricaemia including gout: Phase 2, single arm, open‒label, multicentre studies.

Objectives: Urate-lowering efficacy and safety of febuxostat was evaluated in paediatric patients with hyperuricaemia including gout.

Methods: A Phase 2 study of febuxostat in paediatric patients aged 6-18 years with hyperuricaemia including gout was conducted. We evaluated the proportion of patients achieving serum uric acid (sUA) level ≤6.

Incidence of Malignancies and the Association with Biological Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Japanese Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Time-Dependent Analysis from the IORRA Patient Registry.

Introduction: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may have an increased malignancy risk versus the general population, potentially elevated by biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) use. Using patient registry data, we determined malignancy risk, stratified by bDMARD use, among Japanese patients with RA versus the Japanese general population and investigated whether bDMARD use is a time-dependent risk factor for the development of malignancy.

Methods: Patients aged ≥ 18 years with ≥ 2 data entries of RA in the IORRA (Institute of Rheumatology, Rheumatoid Arthritis) patient registry, enrolled from January 2013-December 2018, were identified ('All RA' cohort).

Blood pressure during long-term cilostazol-based dual antiplatelet therapy after stroke: a post hoc analysis of the CSPS.com trial.

We determined the associations of follow-up blood pressure (BP) after stroke as a time-dependent covariate with the risk of subsequent ischemic stroke, as well as those of BP levels with the difference in the impact of long-term clopidogrel or aspirin monotherapy versus additional cilostazol medication on secondary stroke prevention. In a sub-analysis of a randomized controlled trial (CSPS.com), patients between 8 and 180 days after stroke onset were randomly assigned to receive aspirin or clopidogrel alone, or a combination of cilostazol with aspirin or clopidogrel.

Assessment of smoking care by stroke specialists in patients with recent TIA and minor stroke: an international prospective registry-based cohort study.

Objectives: The objectives are to assess smoking abstinence and its effects on vascular risk and to report tobacco-cessation counselling and pharmacotherapy use in patients who had a recent minor stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA).

Design And Setting: The TIA registry.org project is a prospective, observational registry of patients with TIA and minor stroke that occurred in the previous 7 days with a 5-year follow-up, involving 61 sites with stroke specialists in 21 countries (Europe, Asia, Latin America and Middle East).

An open-label study of belumosudil, a selective ROCK2 inhibitor, as second or subsequent line of therapy for steroid-dependent/steroid-resistant chronic GVHD.

Belumosudil mesylate is a selective Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase 2 inhibitor with immunomodulatory and antifibrosis effects. This multicenter, open-label, single-arm study evaluated belumosudil 200 mg once daily as second or subsequent line of therapy (LOT) in 21 Japanese patients ≥12 years of age with steroid-dependent/steroid-resistant chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). The primary endpoint of best overall response rate (ORR) at 24 weeks after enrollment of the last patient was 85.

Prognostic impact of the number of resected pelvic nodes in endometrial cancer: Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group Study JGOG2043 post hoc analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether the number of resected pelvic lymph nodes (PLNs) affects the prognosis of endometrial cancer (EC) patients at post-operative risk of recurrence.

Methods: JGOG2043 was a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of three chemotherapeutic regimens as adjuvant therapy in EC patients with post-operative recurrent risk. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 250 patients who underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy alone in JGOG2043.

Factors contributing to the improvement in Japanese Health Assessment Questionnaire after 3 years of treatment with abatacept in biologic-naïve rheumatoid arthritis patients: Interim results of a long-term, observational, multicentre study in Japan (ORIGAMI).

Objectives: We investigated the long-term effectiveness, safety, and factors affecting Japanese Health Assessment Questionnaire (J-HAQ) improvement during abatacept treatment in Japanese rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: The Orencia® Registry in Geographically Assembled Multicenter Investigation (ORIGAMI) study is an ongoing observational study of biologic-naïve RA patients with moderate disease activity treated with subcutaneous abatacept (125 mg, once weekly). Patients treated with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) were extracted from the Institute of Rheumatology, Rheumatoid Arthritis (IORRA) registry as a historical, weighted control group.

A systematic-search-and-review of registered pharmacological therapies investigated to improve neuro-recovery after a stroke.

Background: Stroke burden is largely due to long-term impairments requiring prolonged care with loss of productivity. We aimed to identify and assess studies of different registered pharmacological therapies as treatments to improve post-stroke impairments and/or disabilities.

Methods: We performed a systematic-search-and-review of treatments that have been investigated as recovery-enhancing or recovery-promoting therapies in adult patients with stroke.

Levels of vitamin D and a bone resorption marker in the sera of young women with alcohol use disorder.

Background: Excessive alcohol drinking negatively affects bone metabolism and leads to a risk of decreased bone mass, which is a major component of the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. However, the potential influence of alcohol on bones has not been fully recognized, particularly among the young to middle-aged generation.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the status of serum markers related to bone metabolism in young to middle-aged women with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Comparison of Recommendations Made by Committee Members with and without Financial Conflict of Interest on Japanese Guideline of Treatment of Hyperuricemia and Gout, Third Edition.

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) consist of clinical questions (CQs) and corresponding recommendations. Considering the estimation of body of evidence, patients' opinions, and medical economics, recommendations can vary depending on the votes of the committee members of CPGs. Taking this into consideration, concerns have already been raised on how financial conflict of interest (COI) potentially influences recommendations.

Underlying Causes of TIA and Minor Ischemic Stroke and Risk of Major Vascular Events.

Importance: The coexistence of underlying causes in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor ischemic stroke as well as their associated 5-year risks are not well known.

Objective: To apply the ASCOD (atherosclerosis, small vessel disease, cardiac pathology, other cause, or dissection) grading system to assess coexistence of underlying causes of TIA and minor ischemic stroke and the 5-year risk for major vascular events.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This international registry cohort (TIAregistry.

Factors associated with sarcopenia in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results from the IORRA cohort study.

To investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with sarcopenia in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We analyzed a cross-section of patients with RA participating in the Institute of Rheumatology Rheumatoid Arthritis cohort survey in 2021. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires, including a 5-item sarcopenia screening index (SARC-F).