Concordance between practice and published evidence in the management of ANCA-associated vasculitis in Japan: A cross-sectional web-questionnaire survey.

Objectives: We conducted a descriptive study of the physicians' evidence-practice gap for adults covered by the 2017 clinical practice guidelines for the management of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis in Japan.

Methods: This web-based survey, conducted between January and February 2021, involved physicians who had treated at least five patients in the preceding year at a regional core hospital. The outcome was the physicians' experience in treating patients with microscopic polyangiitis or granulomatosis with polyangiitis [prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CIs)], defined as treating at least 60% of their patients with the recommended therapy during the year.

The impact of vitamin D on the onset and progress of Kawasaki disease.

Background: The seasonal epidemic of Kawasaki disease (KD) in winter in Japan suggests that low vitamin D status may affect KD through the immune system. We aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D on the onset and clinical course of KD.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study to compare 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in KD patients admitted to our hospital between March 2018 and June 2021, with those in healthy controls from published Japanese data.

Rituximab Desensitization in Liver Transplant Recipients With Preformed Donor-specific HLA Antibodies: A Japanese Nationwide Survey.

Background: The significance of preformed donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSAs) in liver transplant recipients is controversial. Moreover, there has been no established desensitization protocol for DSA-positive recipients.

Methods: A Japanese nationwide survey was performed to investigate the clinical practice among preformed DSA-positive patients with special reference to rituximab desensitization.

The efficacy of rituximab treatment for antibody-mediated rejection in liver transplantation: A retrospective Japanese nationwide study.

Aim: Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) has been consistently elucidated in liver transplantation (LT); however, the treatment for AMR, including rituximab, has not been indicated as a strongly recommended therapeutic protocol.

Methods: This study was conducted as the Japanese multicenter retrospective study to accumulate data on the use of rituximab for AMR among patients undergoing LT between August 2001 and December 2016. Thirteen patients (five children and eight adults) were enrolled.

Orally inhaled fluticasone propionate improved chronic rhinosinusitis with co-morbid asthma: report of a case.

Chronic rhinosinusitis and asthma are expressions of airway inflammatory diseases that frequently coexist, especially in the case of adult-onset asthma. Both conditions have similar pathological features, while one affects the upper airways and the other the lower airways. Whether the treatment of bronchial inflammation affects the severity of sinus disease remains an unanswered question.

Gestational thyrotoxicosis with acute Wernicke encephalopathy: a case report.

A 35-year-old hyperthyroid woman who developed nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, nystagmus and mental disturbance, was referred to our hospital with a suspected diagnosis of thyroid storm. However, the thyroid gland was only slightly palpable, bruits were not audible, and exophthalmos was not present. Serum levels of thyroid hormone were increased, but TSH receptor antibodies were negative.