BCAA oral supplementation improved phagocytic function of neutrophils and NK activity of lymphocytes in cirrhotic patients. BCAA supplementation may reduce the risk of bacterial and viral infection in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

No abstract

Introduction: Idarucizumab, a monoclonal antibody fragment, was developed to reverse the anticoagulant effect of dabigatran, and it was approved in Japan in September 2016. An all-case post-marketing surveillance is ongoing to collect data in Japanese patients treated with idarucizumab who had serious bleeding (Group A) or required an urgent procedure (Group B).

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation has been used to treat cardiovascular diseases and other types of muscular dysfunction. A novel whole-body neuromuscular electrical stimulation (WB-NMES) wearable device may be beneficial when combined with voluntary exercises. This study aimed to investigate the safety and effects of the WB-NMES on hemodynamics, arrhythmia, and sublingual microcirculation. The study included 19 healthy Japanese volunteers, aged 22–33 years, who were not using any medication. Electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography, and blood sampling were conducted before a 20-min WB-NMES session and at 0 and 10 min after termination of WB-NMES. Their tolerable maximum intensity was recorded using numeric rating scale. Arrhythmia was not detected during neuromuscular electrical stimulation or during 10 min of recovery. Blood pressure, heart rate, left ventricular ejection fraction, and diastolic function remained unchanged; however, mild mitral regurgitation was transiently observed during WB-NMES in a single male participant. A decrease in blood glucose and an increase in blood lactate levels were observed, but no changes in blood fluidity, sublingual microcirculation, blood levels of noradrenaline, or oxidative stress were shown. WB-NMES is safe and effective for decreasing blood glucose and increasing blood lactate levels without changing the blood fluidity or microcirculation in healthy people.

Introduction: Clinical trials of linagliptin in Japanese patients conducted to date have had limited observational periods; therefore, there is a need for additional longer-term real-world data. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term safety and effectiveness of linagliptin in routine clinical practice. Methods: This was a prospective, observational, post-marketing surveillance study conducted over 156 weeks in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who started linagliptin monotherapy. The primary endpoint was the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The secondary endpoint was the change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) from baseline to last available