Mogamulizumab decreased the number of HTLV-1-infected cells and the levels of inflammatory markers. Rash was the chief side effect. The effect of mogamulizumab on clinical HAM-TSP needs to be clarified in future studies. (Funded by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development and the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare; UMIN trial number, UMIN000012655 .).

The autonomic properties in 27 patients with the electrocardiographic morphology of Brugada syndrome were investigated using 24-h Holter monitoring: 10 patients had a history of ventricular fibrillation (VF; Br-VF group) and 17 did not (Br-N group); there were 26 healthy subjects enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent normal Holter data monitoring and power spectral analysis. Few extrasystoles were observed in either group, and the mean heart rate (HR), maximum HR, and total heart beats over 24 h were obtained. All of these measurements were significantly lower in the Br-VF group than in the Br-N and healthy subject groups. The RR interval variability was analyzed over 512 beats every 10 min. The high-frequency component (0.15-0.40 Hz; HF), low-frequency component (0.04-0.15 Hz; LF) and the LF/HF ratio were analyzed over 24 h. The HF was significantly higher and LF/HF ratio lower in the Br-VF group than in the healthy subjects. The HF was also significantly higher than in the Br-N group. During the night (00.00-05.00 h), the HF was significantly higher in the Br-VF group, and the LH/HF lower. During the day (12.00-17.00 h), the HF was significantly higher in the Br-VF group, but there was no difference in the LF/HF. These results indicate that high vagal tone and low sympathetic tone are specific properties of symptomatic Brugada syndrome.

The EXPAND study demonstrated that low dosages of rivaroxaban for Japanese NVAF patients in real-world clinical practice, including those with CHADS scores 0-1, resulted in low rates of stroke and SE, and major and non-major bleeding.

Abstract. Paclitaxel is widely used for treatment of malignant tumors. Paclitaxel is metabolized by CYP2C8 and CYP3A4, and these enzymes are known to differ between individuals, although the details have not been clarified. Recent progress in pharmacogenetics has shown that genetic polymorphisms of metabolic enzymes are related to these individual differences. We investigated the effect of the polymorphisms on paclitaxel metabolism by analyzing metabolic activities of CYP2C8 and CYP3A4 and expressions of mRNA and protein. Production of 6a -hydroxypaclitaxel, a metabolite of CYP2C8, was 2.3-fold larger than 3'-p-hydroxypaclitaxel, a metabolite of CYP3A4. Significant inter-individual differences between these two enzyme activities were shown. The expressions of mRNA and protein levels correlated well with the enzyme activities, especially with CYP3A4. Although it was previously reported that CYP2C8*3 showed lower activity than the wild type, two subjects that had the CYP2C8*3 allele did not show lower activities in our study. Inter-individual differences in paclitaxel metabolism may be related to CYP2C8 and CYP3A4 mRNA expression. CYP2C8 is the primary metabolic pathway of paclitaxel, but there is a "shifting phenomenon" in the metabolic pathway of paclitaxel in the liver of some human subjects.

E-Storm was associated with subsequent mortality in patients with structural heart disease including DCM.

Hypercholesterolemia and diabetes mellitus are known to be accompanied by reproductive dysfunction. In this study, we investigated the effects of hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, and these conditions combined, on testosterone (T) and testicular luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin (LH/hCG) binding. Sprague-Dawley rats (8 weeks old) were divided into four groups: Group 1 was the control, group 2 was fed standard chow containing 2% cholesterol (C-diet), group 3 was administered streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg, i.p.), group 4 was treated with both the C-diet and STZ. After 4 weeks, rats were sacrificed. Serum glucose was significantly higher in the STZ group (304% that of controls) and the C-diet plus STZ group (345%), but there was no difference between the C-diet group (89%) and the control group. Serum cholesterol was significantly higher in the C-diet group (206% that of controls), the STZ group (452%) and the C-diet plus STZ group (2042%). Serum T, testicular T, and LH/hCG binding were significantly lower in the C-diet group (49%, 52%, and 81% that of controls, respectively), the STZ group (15%, 32%, and 72%) and the C-diet plus STZ group (8%, 21%, and 57%). These results suggest that hypercholesterolemia is an independent risk factor for testicular dysfunction and that the reduction of serum and testicular T levels is due at least in part to a reduction in testicular LH/hCG binding in rats with hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, and these conditions combined. It is further suggested that the reduction in LH/hCG binding is mainly related to a rise in serum cholesterol levels.

Our data demonstrated that HRR can be improved in obese subjects by a 3-month exercise and weight loss program. Improvement in cardiopulmonary function by exercise seems to be the main contributor to the increment of HRR.

Adipose tissue contains multipotent cells known as adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (ASCs), which have therapeutic potential for various diseases. Although the demand for adipose tissue for research use remains high, no adipose tissue bank exists. In this study, we attempted to isolate ASCs from cryopreserved adipose tissue with the aim of developing a banking system. ASCs were isolated from fresh and cryopreserved adipose tissue of rats and compared for proliferation (doubling time), differentiation capability (adipocytes), and cytokine (hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor) secretion. Finally, ASCs (2.5 × 106) were intravenously infused into rats with spinal cord injury, after which hindlimb motor function was evaluated. Isolation and culture of ASCs from cryopreserved adipose tissue were possible, and their characteristics were not significantly different from those of fresh tissue. Transplantation of ASCs derived from cryopreserved tissue significantly promoted restoration of hindlimb movement function in injured model rats. These results indicate that cryopreservation of adipose tissue may be an option for clinical application.