Real-world effectiveness of mepolizumab in Japanese asthma patients with diverse backgrounds: Improvements in rhinosinusitis imaging (J-Real-Mepo).

Background: Although randomized controlled trials (RCT) have demonstrated the efficacy of mepolizumab for asthma, they have excluded certain patient subgroups. To bridge the gap between RCT and real-world practice, the effectiveness of mepolizumab in a diverse population, including those potentially excluded from RCT, was assessed. Its effects on imaging findings and symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with asthma were also assessed.

Characterization and Detection Strategy Exploration in Cryptogenic Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Insights From a Super-Aged Region in Japan.

Background And Aim: In recent years, there has been a rise in cryptogenic hepatocellular carcinoma (c-HCC) cases in Japan, posing a detection challenge due to an unknown etiology. This study aims to enhance diagnostic strategies for c-HCC by analyzing its characteristics and exploring current opportunities for detection.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from April 2012 to March 2022, enrolling 372 newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

2024 Update of the Japan College of Rheumatology Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis - secondary publication.

Objectives: To update the Japan College of Rheumatology Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis (CPG for RA).

Methods: The recommendations were developed based on the evidence published until the end of June 2022 using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). The steering committee, CPG panel, systematic review (SR) group, and SR support team were organised.

Androgen receptor and osteoglycin gene expression predicting prognosis of metastatic prostate cancer.

This study aimed to identify the predictive factors associated with the oncological outcomes of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer-related genes. A nomogram for predicting prostate cancer-specific survival (CSS) was constructed based on biopsy samples obtained from 103 patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. We analyzed the association between clinical data and mRNA expression levels.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative disease during remission after induction therapy with dasatinib in Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a case report.

Dasatinib, a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been reported to have immunomodulatory effects. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (EBV-LPD) occur in immunocompromised patients, such as those receiving methotrexate or other immunosuppressive drugs or after allogenic transplantation. EBV-LPD is also reported to be a rare side effect in patients receiving long-term dasatinib or imatinib.

Clinical characteristics and quality of life of patients with Behcet's disease with arthritis in Japan.

Arthritis is one of the most common symptoms of Behcet's Disease (BD) observed in 57% of Japanese patients with BD. The relationship between arthritis and other clinical symptoms of BD and the impact of arthritis on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with BD are still unclear. Therefore, the current study aimed to clarify the differences in clinical symptoms depending on the presence or absence of arthritis and evaluate the impact of arthritis on QOL in these patients.

Pemafibrate for treating MASLD complicated by hypertriglyceridaemia: a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial study protocol.

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, now known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a phenotype of the metabolic syndrome in the liver and is clearly associated with metabolic abnormalities such as hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia. Although the prevalence of MASLD is increasing worldwide, there is currently no consensus on the efficacy and safety of the drugs used to treat MASLD/metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Pemafibrate, a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha modulator, was designed to have higher peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alfa (PPARα) agonist activity and selectivity than existing PPARα agonists, and in development trials, without increasing creatinine levels, lipid parameters and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly improved.

Predicting dupilumab effectiveness with Type-2 biomarkers: A real-world study of severe asthma.

Background: The therapeutic effectiveness of dupilumab for severe asthma in real-world settings is yet to be prospectively investigated across multiple institutions, and uncertainties persist regarding predictive factors for its effectiveness. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of dupilumab and identify predictors of its effectiveness in real-world settings using two type-2 biomarkers: FeNO concentration and blood eosinophil count.

Methods: This prospective multicenter study included 103 patients with severe asthma.

Nationwide epidemiological survey of juvenile idiopathic arthritis during transition to young adulthood in Japan using the National Database of Designated Incurable Diseases of Japan.

Objectives We aimed to assess the unmet medical needs of young adult patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis by evaluating real-world treatment data. Methods We analyzed data on juvenile idiopathic arthritis in the 20-29 age group from the National Database of Designated Incurable Diseases of Japan, which records severe cases or those requiring high-cost medical care registered between April 2018 and March 2020. Results Overall, 322 patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis transitioning to adulthood were included.

Innovative use of a stent retriever for temporary revascularization in acute internal carotid artery dissection.

Internal carotid artery dissection is rare but can be a cause of stroke in young people. In a case of revascularization for stroke associated with internal carotid artery dissection, we initially used a stent retriever for thrombectomy. Since an appropriately-sized stent for permanent treatment was not available, we innovatively maintained temporary revascularization with the stent retriever for 90 minutes.

Pregnancy and childbirth in Takayasu arteritis in Japan: A nationwide retrospective study.

Objectives: This study aimed to understand the status quo of medical treatments of the primary disease and pregnancy outcomes in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and children's birth outcomes.

Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled patients with TAK who conceived after the disease onset and were managed at medical facilities participating in the Japan Research Committee of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare for Intractable Vasculitis.

Results: This study enrolled 51 cases and 68 pregnancies 2019-2021.

Low-Dose Glucocorticoids in Older Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: What Does the Evidence Say?

The short-term use of glucocorticoids (GCs) in combination with methotrexate was recommended for the initial treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by the European League Against Rheumatism. A randomized controlled trial (GLORIA) showed that treatment of older patients with low-dose GCs in combination with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs was more efficacious than disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs plus placebo in terms of disease activity control and prevention of joint destruction. Glucocorticoid-related adverse events were likely to increase relative to placebo, with no increase in serious adverse events and fractures over 2 years.

Nintedanib combined with immunosuppressive agents improves forced vital capacity in connective tissue disease-associated PF-ILD: a single-center study.

Background: In 2020, Nintedanib (NTB), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was the first drug approved worldwide for treating progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD). This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of NTB in Japanese patients with CTD-associated PF-ILD in a real-world setting, as there are few reports on this topic. We also evaluated the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with NTB and immunosuppressive agents (IS).

The Potential of Narrow-Band Imaging as a Novel Light Source for Photodynamic Therapy for Superficial Cancers via Endoscopes.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has advanced through the utilization of photosensitizers and specific-wavelength light (≥ 600 nm). However, the widespread adoption of PDT is still impeded by high equipment costs and stringent laser safety requirements. Porphyrins, crucial in PDT, have another absorbance peak of blue light (λ = 380 - 500 nm).