Alogliptin treatment improved the AGE-RAGE axis and reduced albuminuria in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients.

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Among older hypertensive patients with antihypertensive medications, those who had echocardiographically determined cardiac hypertrophy may be at high risk for cognitive dysfunction, irrespective of their office BP and 24-h BP levels.

AIMTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of a regimen containing sofosbuvir (SOF) and ledipasvir (LDV) in Japanese patients aged ≥ 75 years with hepatitis C genotype 1.METHODSThis multicenter, retrospective study consisted of 246 Japanese patients with HCV genotype 1 at nine centers in Miyazaki prefecture in Japan. Demographic, clinical, virological, and adverse effects (AE)-related data obtained during and after SOF/LDV therapy were collected from medical records. These patients were divided into two groups, younger (aged < 75 years) and elderly (aged ≥ 75 years). Virological data and AEs were analyzed by age group.RESULTSThe sustained virological response (SVR) rates at 12 wk after treatment were 99.2%, 99.4%, and 98.7% in the overall population and in patients aged < 75 and ≥ 75 years, respectively. Common AEs during therapy were headache, pruritus, constipation, and insomnia. These occurred in fewer than 10% of patients, and their incidence was not significantly different between the younger and elderly groups. Two patients discontinued treatment, one due to a skin eruption and the other due to cerebral bleeding.CONCLUSIONCompared with younger patients, elderly patients had a similar virological response and tolerance to SOF/LDV therapy.

Aim We aimed to establish a telestroke system for general physicians in areas without a nearby stroke center and investigate its usefulness for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt‐PA) therapy for patients with acute cerebral infarction. Methods We used a hub and spoke model, in which a hub hospital provided telestroke support to the spoke hospitals in rural areas that were not nearby a stroke center. The telestroke support device enabled the sharing of images and real‐time face‐to‐face discussion with a stroke specialist for diagnosis and treatment. We evaluated the effect of this telestroke system on shortening time to start rt‐PA therapy. Result One hub and three spoke hospitals were selected. From May 2017 to November 2018, seven patients (77.2 ± 6.3 years old) suspected to have acute cerebral infarction were treated at the spoke hospitals via this system, three of whom received intravenous rt‐PA administration by a general physician under telestroke support. If these patients would have been sent via ground ambulance to the nearby stroke center, it would have taken approximately 48 min more to administer rt‐PA. Conclusion Establishment of a telestroke support system for general physicians in areas without a nearby stroke center was useful for promptly performing rt‐PA therapy.