Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis.

Objective: The objective of this study is to clarify the clinical features of thyroid dysfunction observed in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP).

Methods: We repeatedly examined thyroid function in 74 patients with type 1 AIP (58 males, 16 females; average onset age of AIP 67 years). Clinical and serological findings in patients with thyroid dysfunction were analyzed.

Diagnosis of isolated hilar-/extrahepatic-type IgG-4-related sclerosing cholangitis can be increased by improved recognition of this condition-A Japanese multicenter analysis.

Background: Patients with isolated IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) often undergo unnecessary resection. The aim of this study was to validate the revised Japanese diagnostic criteria for isolated IgG-4-SC and to improve awareness about this condition in the population.

Methods: This was a Japanese retrospective multicenter study.

[A Case of Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection Accompanied with Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm].

An 87-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with left thigh pain, and sciatic nerve pain was diagnosed. A chest CT scan showed bronchiectasis and tree-in buds and an acid-fast stain test of gastric juice was positive; further, M. avium-PCR of sputum and culture results were positive leading to a diagnosis of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infection(NTM).

A Novel Method for Acquired Sex Chromosome Mosaicism.

The phenomenon of sex chromosome loss from hematopoietic cells is an emerging indicator of biological aging. While many methods to detect this loss have been developed, enhancing the field, these existing methods often suffer from being labor-intensive, expensive, and not sufficiently sensitive. To bridge this gap, a novel and more efficient technique is developed, named the SinChro assay.

Multicenter randomized controlled trial of intensive uric acid lowering therapy for CKD patients with hyperuricemia: TARGET-UA.

Background: We investigate whether Intensive uric acid (UA)-lowering therapy (ULT) provides increased renal protection compared with standard therapy in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

Methods: This was a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Only CKD patients with hyperuricemia were included in this study.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with retained internal fixation hardware for treating Schatzker type V tibial plateau fracture: Two case reports.

Despite the high incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injury in patients with tibial plateau fractures, we found no reports about anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with retained internal fixation hardware for these fractures. Herein, we report 2 male patients with Schatzker type V tibial plateau fractures and describe the use of retained hardware for internal fixation in tibia. The patients underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using outside-in technique for the femoral tunnel.

Quality of life after total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation for chronic pancreatitis in Japan.

Background: Patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) often have severe and intractable abdominal pain, leading to decreased quality of life (QOL), inability to work or attend school, and increased health care costs due to repeated emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

Methods: We evaluated the efficacy of total pancreatectomy and islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) in terms of pain control and QOL in CP patients treated at our center in Japan. To evaluate QOL, we used the Short-Form 36 Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2 Standard, Japanese), European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Pancreatic Modification (QLQ-PAN28).

Mechanism for exercise-mediated prevention against muscle wasting on extensor digitorum longus muscle in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii fatty rats.

We previously reported the significant increase in limb muscle strength and cross-sectional area of the type IIb muscle fibers in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle in a type 2 diabetic animal model, with Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats (n = 6) undergoing regular treadmill exercise from 8 to 16 weeks of age compared with sedentary SDT fatty rats (n = 6). This study investigated the mechanism by which exercise training prevented skeletal muscle wasting in the EDL muscle of the SDT fatty rats. The endurance exercise for 8 weeks downregulated the expression of muscle RING-finger protein-1 (an E3 ubiquitin ligase) and upregulated the expression of CD31, insulin receptor substrate-2, and phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the EDL muscle of 16-week-old SDT fatty rats.

Angiotensin II type 1a receptor deficiency alleviates muscle atrophy after denervation.

The study aim was to determine if suppressed activation of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) prevents severe muscle atrophy after denervation. The sciatic nerves in right and left inferior limbs were cut in AT1a knockout homo (AT1a) male mice and wild-type (AT1a) male mice. Muscle weight and cross-sectional areas of type IIb muscle fibers in gastrocnemius muscle decreased at 7 and 21 days postdenervation in both AT1a mice and AT1a mice, and the reduction was significantly attenuated in the denervated muscles of AT1a mice compared to the AT1a mice.

Comparison of novel large-bore and conventional-bore covered self-expandable metal stents for malignant gastric outlet obstruction: Multicenter, retrospective study.

Objectives: Covered self-expandable metal stent (cSEMS) for gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) has been developed to overcome tumor ingrowth but is prone to be associated with an increased risk of migration. Clinical impact of the novel large-bore cSEMS for malignant GOO remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 117 patients undergoing endoscopic cSEMS placement for malignant GOO were enrolled in this multicenter retrospective study.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, liraglutide, attenuated retinal thickening in spontaneously diabetic Torii fatty rats.

Background: This study aims to investigate the effect of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) liraglutide on retinal pathological findings as compared with insulin and hydralazine using an animal model of type 2 diabetes with obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.

Methods: Male spontaneously diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats at 8 weeks of age were randomly assigned to three groups: the liraglutide group (SDT-lira, n = 6) received a subcutaneous injection of liraglutide from the age of 8 to 16 weeks, the SDT-ins-hyd group (n = 6) was provided both insulin against hyperglycemia and hydralazine against hypertension to match levels of both blood glucose and blood pressure to those of the liraglutide group, and the control group of SDT fatty rats (SDT-vehicle, n = 7) and a nondiabetic control group of Sprague-Dawley rats (SD, n = 7) were injected with vehicle only. Both eyeballs of all groups were collected at the age of 16 weeks.

A case report of breakthrough infection with the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant and household transmission: Role of vaccination, anti-spike IgG and neutralizing activity.

There have been several reports of breakthrough infections, which are defined as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections among individuals who had received at least two doses of vaccine at least 14 days before the onset of infection, but data on the antibody titers, including SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody activity, and the clinical course of individuals with breakthrough infections are limited. We encountered a case of breakthrough infection with the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant in a 31-year-old female healthcare worker (the index case, Case 1) and a secondary case (Case 2) in her unvaccinated 33-year-old husband. We studied the role of the anti-spike immunoglobulin G (IgG) and neutralizing antibody activity in the two case patients.

Three SARS-CoV-2 PCR-negative cases of COVID-19 diagnosed using isothermal amplification methods.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a viral disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 can be detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and isothermal nucleic acid amplification tests, including loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and nicking endonuclease amplification reaction (NEAR) tests. Although PCR is the most sensitive and specific method and is generally considered to be the gold standard, it is time-consuming and costly.

Urate-lowering therapy for CKD patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia without proteinuria elucidated by attribute-based research in the FEATHER Study.

Attribute-based medicine is essential for patient-centered medicine. To date, the groups of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) requiring urate-lowering therapy are clinically unknown. Herein, we evaluated the efficacy of febuxostat using a cross-classification, attribute-based research approach.

Endurance Exercise Training-Attenuated Diabetic Kidney Disease with Muscle Weakness in Spontaneously Diabetic Torii Fatty Rats.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate protective effects of endurance exercise training against diabetic kidney disease (DKD) with muscle weakness by using male spontaneously diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats as type 2 diabetic animal models with obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.

Methods: Eight-week-old SDT fatty rats (n = 12) and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n = 10) were randomly divided into exercise (Ex; SDT-Ex: n = 6, SD-Ex: n = 5) and sedentary groups (SDT-Cont: n = 6, SD-Cont: n = 5), respectively. Each group underwent regular treadmill exercise 4 times a week from ages 8-16 weeks.

Allogeneic islet transplantation with monitoring of islet-specific cellular autoimmunity in a Japanese patient with type 1 diabetes: A case report.

Here, we report a case of allogeneic islet transplantation in Japan. A 48-year-old man received intraportal islet transplantation (5,945 islet equivalent/kg), and stabilization of blood glucose levels and suppression of hypoglycemia were achieved. In the present case, we used our original assessment method to detect the responses of the recipient's T cells to islet autoantigens over time to monitor cellular autoimmunity.

Effect of GLP-1 receptor agonist, liraglutide, on muscle in spontaneously diabetic torii fatty rats.

This study investigated the effect of liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, on skeletal muscles in rats with type 2 diabetes. Male SDT fatty rats (8-week-old) were provided liraglutide, or insulin-hydralazine for 8 weeks; control SDT fatty rats and SD rats were administered a vehicle. At 16 weeks of age, muscle strength of limbs was significantly lower in all SDT fatty rats compared to SD rats.

Impact of Obesity and Heavy Alcohol Consumption on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development after HCV Eradication with Antivirals.

Background And Aims: It remains unclear whether obesity increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis C who achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) with antiviral therapy.

Methods: In this multicenter cohort study, we enrolled patients with chronic hepatitis C who achieved SVR with interferon (IFN)-based therapy (IFN group) or direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy (DAA group) between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2018. The patients underwent regular surveillance for HCC.

The Effect of Add-on Acetazolamide to Conventional Diuretics for Diuretic-resistant Edema Complicated with Hypercapnia: A Report of Two Cases.

We herein report two cases in which add-on acetazolamide to furosemide was effective for diuretic-resistant volume overload and hypercapnia. Case 1 was a woman in her 40s presenting with volume overload due to the nephrotic syndrome with diabetes mellitus. Case 2 was a man in his 60s with fluid overload and non-nephrotic proteinuria and sepsis.

Association Between Kidney Function Decline and Baseline TNFR Levels or Change Ratio in TNFR by Febuxostat Chiefly in Non-diabetic CKD Patients With Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia.

The levels of circulating tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) 1 and 2 help predict the future decline of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) chiefly in patients with diabetes. It has been recently reported that the change ratio in TNFR1 by SGLT2 inhibitor treatment is also related with future GFR decline in patients with diabetes. The aims of this study are to investigate the association between baseline TNFR levels and early change in TNFR levels by the non-purine selective xanthine oxidase inhibitor, febuxostat, and future eGFR decline chiefly in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients without diabetes.

Hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage with undetectable plasma vascular endothelial growth factor levels in a patient receiving intravitreal injection of aflibercept for bilateral diabetic macular edema: a case report.

Background: Intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor are commonly used to treat macular diseases, including diabetic macular edema. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs can enter the systemic circulation after intravitreal injections and appear to suppress circulating vascular endothelial growth factor levels. However, whether this can cause any systemic adverse events remains unknown.