Clinical features of flare in Japanese patients with new-onset SLE and risk factors for SLE flare in daily clinical practice: a single-center cohort study.

This study aimed to elucidate the clinical features, outcomes and risk factors of flares in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Data were collected from patients with newly diagnosed SLE at the Fukushima Medical University Hospital between 2011 and 2022. Patients who experienced a flare during the study period constituted the flare group, and their clinical features were compared with those of the no-flare group. The cumulative flare-free survival regarding several clinical items was compared between the two groups using Kaplan-Meier's curves. Among 387 patients with SLE, 83 patients with newly diagnosed SLE were included. Their mean age was 37.9 years, and 29 patients experienced flares during the study period. The general characteristics were similar between the two groups, with the exception of the observation period and anti-SS-A antibody positivity. Regarding therapy, a significantly increased frequency of hydroxychloroquine intake and combination with immunosuppressive agents were observed in the no-flare group. The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significantly higher cumulative flare-free survival in the anti-SS-A negative group and combination immunosuppressive therapy group. In conclusion, anti-SS-A positivity may be a risk factor for SLE flare. In turn, combination immunosuppressive therapy may be beneficial for SLE treatment in daily clinical practice.

Effects of the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on mortality in patients with lung cancer: A multiple mediation analysis in Japan.

COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial effect on healthcare systems worldwide, including the care of patients with lung cancer. The impact of healthcare disruptions and behavioral changes on lung cancer mortality is unclear. Patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer during the pandemic period 2020-2021 were compared with those diagnosed in the pre-pandemic 2018-2019. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality within 1 year. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were conducted to estimate the changes in mortality between pandemic and pre-pandemic. Multiple mediation analyses were performed to determine the factors that accounted for the changes in mortality. In total, 5785 patients with lung cancer were included in this study. The overall mortality rate was significantly higher during the pandemic compared with the pre-pandemic (crude hazard ratio [HR]: 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05, 1.29). Mediation analyses showed that not receiving tumor-directed treatment, diagnosis at an older age, and decreased diagnosis through cancer screening significantly accounted for 17.5% (95%CI: 4.2, 30.7), 13.9% (95%CI: 0.8, 27.0), and 12.4% (95%CI: 3.0, 21.8) of the increased mortality, respectively. This study revealed a significant increase in mortality risk in patients with lung cancer who have not received tumor-directed treatment or cancer screening, despite potential selection bias for follow-up status. Efforts should be focused on ensuring timely access to healthcare services, optimizing treatment delivery, and addressing the unique challenges faced by patients with lung cancer during the pandemic to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on lung cancer outcomes and provide clinical care to vulnerable populations.

Incidence Rates of Infections in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Treated with Janus Kinase or Interleukin-6 Inhibitors: Results of a Retrospective, Multicenter Cohort Study.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the incidence rates (IRs) of infections, including herpes zoster (HZ), in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) or interleukin-6 inhibitors (IL-6is). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 444 RA patients treated using IL-6is (n = 283) or JAKis (n = 161). After adjusting for clinical characteristic imbalances by propensity score matching (PSM), we compared the IRs of infections including HZ between the JAKi and IL-6i groups. Results: Observational period: 1423.93 patient years (PY); median observational period: 2.51 years. After PSM, incidence rate ratios comparing JAKi with IL-6i were 3.45 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.48-9.04) for serious infections other than HZ indicating that the JAKi-treated group was more likely to develop serious infection than the IL-6i-treated group. Multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that the use of prednisolone > 5.0 mg/day, coexisting interstitial lung disease (ILD), and diabetes mellitus (DM) were independent risk factors for serious infections. The crude IR for HZ was significantly higher in the JAKi group, but the difference between groups was not significant (IRR: 2.83, 95% CI: 0.87-10.96) in PSM analysis. Unadjusted and PSM analyses performed in our study showed increased IRs of serious infections in patients with RA treated with JAKis compared with those treated with IL-6is. Conclusions: The presence of ILD or DM and the use of prednisolone were found to be independent risk factors for serious infection in RA patients treated using JAKis. Whereas the IRs for HZ after PSM were not significantly different between the JAKi and IL-6i groups.

Serum Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer and galectin-3 levels in adult-onset Still's disease and their association with cytokines.

Background: Autoinflammation with cytokine dysregulation may be implicated in the pathophysiology of adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD); however, the relationship between galectins and cytokines in patients with active AOSD remains unknown. We aimed to examine the relationship between circulating cytokines/chemokines and galectin-3 (Gal-3) or its ligand, Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi), in Japanese patients with AOSD. Methods: We recruited 44 consecutive patients diagnosed with AOSD according to the Yamaguchi criteria, 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as disease controls, and 27 healthy participants. Serum M2BPGi levels were directly measured using a HISCL M2BPGi reagent kit and an automatic immunoanalyzer (HISCL-5000). Serum Gal-3 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The serum levels of 69 cytokines were analyzed in patients with AOSD using a multi-suspension cytokine array. We performed a cluster analysis of each cytokine expressed in patients with AOSD to identify specific molecular networks. Results: Significant increases in the serum concentrations of Gal-3 and M2BPGi were found in the serum of patients with AOSD compared with patients with RA and healthy participants (both p <0.001). There were significant positive correlations between serum Gal-3 levels and AOSD disease activity score (Pouchot score, r=0.66, p <0.001) and serum ferritin levels. However, no significant correlations were observed between serum M2BPGi levels and AOSD disease activity scores (Pouchot score, r = 0.32, p = 0.06) or serum ferritin levels. Furthermore, significant correlations were observed between the serum levels of Gal-3 and various inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-18, in patients with AOSD. Immunosuppressive treatment in patients with AOSD significantly reduced serum Gal-3 and M2BPGi levels (p = 0.03 and 0.004, respectively). Conclusions: Although both Gal-3 and M2BPGi were elevated in patients with AOSD, only Gal-3 was a useful biomarker for predicting disease activity in AOSD. Our findings suggest that circulating Gal-3 reflects the inflammatory component of AOSD, which corresponds to proinflammatory cytokine induction through inflammasome activation cascades.

Successful Treatment of Ultrasound-confirmed Synovitis in Anti-MDA5 Antibody-positive Clinically Amyopathic Dermatomyositis with Corticosteroid Therapy.

Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody-positive clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) is a subtype of dermatomyositis without severe myositis but with characteristic cutaneous manifestations and severe interstitial lung disease. Joint symptoms can occur in patients with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive CADM. However, the treatment strategy and utility of ultrasound for treating joint symptoms remain unknown. We herein report an 85-year-old man with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive CADM who presented with ultrasound-confirmed synovitis that improved with medium-dose corticosteroid therapy.

High-speed full-color computer-generated holography using a digital micromirror device and fiber-coupled RGB laser diode.

Computer-generated holography (CGH) can be used to display three-dimensional (3D) images and has a special feature that no other technology possesses: it can reconstruct arbitrary object wavefronts. In this study, we investigated a high-speed full-color reconstruction method for improving the realism of 3D images produced using CGH. The proposed method uses a digital micromirror device (DMD) with a high-speed switching capability as the hologram display device. It produces 3D video by time-division multiplexing using an optical system incorporating fiber-coupled laser diodes (LDs) operating in red, green, and blue wavelengths. The wavelength dispersion of the DMD is compensated for by multiplying plane waves on the hologram. Fourier transform optics are used to separate the object, conjugate, and zeroth-order light, thus eliminating the need for an extensive 4f system. The resources used in this research, such as the programs used for the hologram generation and the schematics of the LD driver, are available on GitHub.

Post-renal acute kidney injury complicated by urinary tract obstruction due to massive blood clots and severe thrombocytopenia in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: A case report.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is often seen with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), and these conditions may occur concurrently with severe immune thrombocytopenia and even acute kidney injury (AKI); however, post-renal AKI due to bleeding is uncommon. Here, we describe a case of post-renal AKI and anuria in a patient with SLE and APS, which were attributable to urinary tract obstruction due to massive blood clots caused by secondary immune thrombocytopenia. A 50-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital with anuria, abdominal tenderness, purpura in the trunk and in both legs, and severe thrombocytopenia. She had been receiving medical treatment for APS and SLE till the age of 45 years. Computed tomography revealed a blood clot without extravasation in both urinary tracts and she was diagnosed with post-renal AKI due to complete obstruction of the urinary system. Additionally, based on her medical history, elevated platelet-associated IgG levels, and increased megakaryocyte count, she was diagnosed with secondary immune thrombocytopenia complicated by SLE and APS. She also had elevated APS-related autoantibodies, including antiphosphatidylserine/prothrombin IgM, and IgG. However, concomitant serositis such as lupus enteritis or cystitis was not seen. She was treated with a combination of glucocorticoids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and continuous hemodialysis/hemofiltration, which resulted in rapid improvement of her symptoms and renal dysfunction. Secondary immune thrombocytopenia-induced massive bleeding of urinary tract can cause post-renal AKI. Appropriate diagnosis and aggressive treatment are necessary to improve prognosis in such patients.

Manual on the proper use of the 211At-labeled PSMA ligand ([211At]PSMA-5) for clinical trials of targeted alpha therapy (1st edition).

Recently, an astatine-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligand ([211At]PSMA-5) has been developed for the targeted alpha therapy of patients with prostate cancer. This manual delineates its physicochemical characteristics to assist healthcare professionals in understanding the α-ray-emitting drug of [211At]PSMA-5 when administered to patients. The safety considerations regarding the handling and use of this drug in clinical trials are outlined, based on the proper usage manual of previous studies. The dose limits, as defined by the guidelines of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), are assessed for patients' caregivers and the general public. According to the calculations provided in this manual, clinical trials involving [211At]PSMA-5 can be safely conducted for these populations even if patients are released after its administration. Moreover, this manual provides comprehensive guidance on the handling of [211At]PSMA-5 for healthcare facilities, and compiles a list of precautionary measures to be distributed among patients and their caregivers. While this manual was created by a research team supported by Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare in Japan and approved by Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine, its applicability extends to healthcare providers in other countries. This manual aims to facilitate conducting clinical trials using [211At]PSMA-5 in patients with prostate cancer.

Bub1 suppresses inflammatory arthritis-associated bone loss in mice through inhibition of TNFα-mediated osteoclastogenesis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by synovitis, bone and cartilage destruction, and increased fracture risk with bone loss. Although disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs have dramatically improved clinical outcomes, these therapies are not universally effective in all patients because of the heterogeneity of RA pathogenesis. Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying RA pathogenesis, including associated bone loss, in order to identify novel therapeutic targets. In this study, we found that Budding uninhibited by benzimidazoles 1 (BUB1) was highly expressed in RA patients' synovium and murine ankle tissue with arthritis. As CD45+CD11b+ myeloid cells are a Bub1 highly expressing population among synovial cells in mice, myeloid cell-specific Bub1 conditional knockout (Bub1ΔLysM) mice were generated. Bub1ΔLysM mice exhibited reduced femoral bone mineral density when compared with control (Ctrl) mice under K/BxN serum-transfer arthritis, with no significant differences in joint inflammation or bone erosion based on a semi-quantitative erosion score and histological analysis. Bone histomorphometry revealed that femoral bone mass of Bub1ΔLysM under arthritis was reduced by increased osteoclastic bone resorption. RNA-seq and subsequent Gene Set Enrichment Analysis demonstrated a significantly enriched nuclear factor-kappa B pathway among upregulated genes in receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)-stimulated bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) obtained from Bub1ΔLysM mice. Indeed, osteoclastogenesis using BMMs derived from Bub1ΔLysM was enhanced by RANKL and tumor necrosis factor-α or RANKL and IL-1ß treatment compared with Ctrl. Finally, osteoclastogenesis was increased by Bub1 inhibitor BAY1816032 treatment in BMMs derived from wildtype mice. These data suggest that Bub1 expressed in macrophages plays a protective role against inflammatory arthritis-associated bone loss through inhibition of inflammation-mediated osteoclastogenesis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease caused by an abnormal immune system, resulting in inflammation, swelling, and bone destruction in the joints, along with systemic bone loss. While new medications have dramatically improved treatment efficacy, these therapies are not universally effective for all patients. Therefore, we need to understand the regulatory mechanisms behind RA, including associated bone loss, to develop better therapies. In this study, we found that Budding uninhibited by benzimidazoles 1 (Bub1) was highly expressed in inflamed joints, especially in myeloid cells, which are a type of immune cells. To explore its role, we created myeloid cell­specific Bub1 conditional knockout (cKO) mice and induced arthritis to analyze its role during arthritis. The cKO mice exhibited lower bone mineral density when compared with control mice under inflammatory arthritis because of increased osteoclastic bone resorption, without significant differences in joint inflammation or bone erosion. Further investigation showed that Bub1 prevents excessive osteoclast differentiation induced by inflammation in bone marrow macrophages. These data suggest that Bub1 in macrophages protects against bone loss caused by inflammatory arthritis, offering potential insights for developing treatments that focus on bone health.

New-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Manifestation Following COVID-19: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory viral disease, and several cases of autoimmune diseases have been reported after infection. This report presents the case of a 38-year-old Japanese woman who developed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) following COVID-19. Clinical manifestations included dermatological complications, joint pain, and positive autoantibodies. The patient met the SLE classification criteria, and renal involvement was observed. Her symptoms improved with immunosuppressive therapy. A literature review identified 10 similar cases, those with lymphopenia and renal involvement. SLE should be considered in patients with persistent nonspecific symptoms after COVID-19 infection, particularly when hematologic and renal involvement are present.

Assessing the Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Gastric Cancer Mortality Risk.

BACKGROUND: The global impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on public health has been significant. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for screening and diagnosis decreased along with new gastric cancer (GC) diagnoses. METHODS: This study assesses how the pandemic affected GC mortality using data from Hiroshima Prefecture, comparing mortality rates between patients diagnosed during the pandemic (2020 and 2021) and pre-pandemic (2018 and 2019) periods. The crude hazard ratios (HRs) and HRs adjusted for age, sex, clinical stage, treatment status, and travel distance to the nearest GC screening facility were estimated using Cox regression models. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 9571 patients were diagnosed, with 4877 eligible for follow-up. The median age was 74 years, and 69% were male. The median follow-up period was 157 days, with events per 1000 person-years at 278 and 374 in the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, respectively (crude HR, 1.37; adjusted HR, 1.17). The sensitivity and subgroup analyses yielded consistent results. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic increased mortality risk in patients with GC. Further studies are required to observe long-term outcomes and identify the disparities contributing to the increased mortality risk.

C5a stimulation induces caspase-1 activation and mature IL-1ß production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The complement component C5a contributes to the recruitment of immune cells to inflamed tissues and local inflammation. The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1ß is also related to inflammatory disorders through inflammasome activation. However, the association between inflammasome activation and C5a is unclear. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with C5a and measured for IL-1ß secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pro-IL-1ß expression in cell lysates was also examined by Western blot analysis. Similarly, magnetic bead-isolated CD14+ monocyte-depleted and lymphocyte-depleted PBMCs were stimulated with C5a, and immunoblot analysis was performed using an anti-cleaved-IL-1ß (p17) antibody. FACS was performed to detect caspase-1-activated cells. C5a-stimulated PBMCs produced IL-1ß in C5a concentration-dependent manner. The protein levels of pro-IL-1ß in the cell lysates were significantly increased. Furthermore, the cleaved-IL-1ß (p17) was faintly detected in the same lysates. Active caspase-1 was demonstrated in C5a-simulated CD14+ monocytes by FACS. Cleaved-IL-1ß (p17) was demonstrated in the supernatant of C5a-stimulated PBMCs. Lymphocyte-depleted PBMCs stimulated with C5a but monocyte-depleted PBMCs produced cleaved-IL-1ß (p17). C5a induced the production of mature IL-1ß in PBMCs. The IL-1ß production is mediated mainly by caspase-1 activation in CD14+ monocytes. These results suggest that C5a alone potentiates mature IL-1ß production mainly in monocytes.

Real-World Effectiveness of Belimumab in Patients with Active Lupus.

This study evaluated the real-world effectiveness of belimumab (BLM) in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with moderate to high disease activity. This retrospective cohort study enrolled 129 Japanese patients with moderate to high SLE disease activity who received BLM between January 2013 and March 2023. The clinical outcomes, including the flare-free survival, SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score, and prednisone-equivalent dose, in the BLM and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) treatment groups were compared before and after treatment. Safety data for BLM were collected. Additionally, we compared the effectiveness of BLM and intravenous cyclophosphamide (IV-CY) treatment using the stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method based on the propensity scores. This observational study enrolled 129 patients with moderate/severe SLE: 48 patients received belimumab, 45 received IV-CY, and 36 received MMF and prednisolone for remission induction therapy. The median follow-up for the BLM group was 17.0 months. Among them, 19 received BLM plus MMF. BLM significantly reduced the mean SLEDAI-2K (from mean baseline to 52 weeks: 49.2% reduction from 12.8 to 6.5) and prednisone daily dose (from mean baseline to 52 weeks: 21.9% reduction from 12.8 to 10.0 mg/day). The flare-free survival at 52 weeks was not significantly different between the BLM and MMF groups. There was no significant difference in the flare-free survival rates or reduction rates of the SLEDAI-2K between the patients treated with BLM and those treated with BLM plus MMF. In the propensity score-matched comparative analyses, there was no significant difference in the flare-free survival rates or an estimated decline in the SLEDAI-2K scores between the patients with lupus treated with BLM and IV-CY. BLM may be a promising alternative treatment option for lupus patients with moderate or high disease activity who do not respond to conventional treatments.

Peptide-to-Small Molecule: Discovery of Non-Covalent, Active-Site Inhibitors of ß-Herpesvirus Proteases.

Viral proteases, the key enzymes that regulate viral replication and assembly, are promising targets for antiviral drug discovery. Herpesvirus proteases are enzymes with no crystallographically confirmed noncovalent active-site binders, owing to their shallow and polar substrate-binding pockets. Here, we applied our previously reported "Peptide-to-Small Molecule" strategy to generate novel inhibitors of ß-herpesvirus proteases. Rapid selection with a display technology was used to identify macrocyclic peptide 1 bound to the active site of human cytomegalovirus protease (HCMVPro) with high affinity, and pharmacophore queries were defined based on the results of subsequent intermolecular interaction analyses. Membrane-permeable small molecule 19, designed de novo according to this hypothesis, exhibited enzyme inhibitory activity (IC50 = 10-6 to 10-7 M) against ß-herpesvirus proteases, and the design concept was proved by X-ray cocrystal analysis.

Safety of JAK and IL-6 inhibitors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a multicenter cohort study.

Background: The ORAL Surveillance trial showed a potentially higher incidence of malignancy and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) associated with tofacitinib than those associated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors (TNFis). However, few studies have compared the safety of non-TNFis or other Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors (JAKis). This study was aimed at comparing the incidence rates (IRs) of malignancies and MACEs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated using interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors (IL-6is) or JAKis. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 427 patients with RA who were treated using an IL-6i (n = 273) or a JAKi (n = 154). We determined the IRs of malignancy and MACEs, and the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of malignancies and investigated factors related to malignancy and MACEs. After adjusting the clinical characteristic imbalance by propensity score matching (PSM), we compared the IRs of adverse events between the JAKi and IL-6i groups. Results: After PSM, the observational period was determined to be 605.27 patient-years (PY), and the median observational period was determined to be 2.28 years. We identified seven cases of malignancy (IR: 2.94 per 100 PY) in the JAKi-treated group and five cases (IR: 1.36 per 100 PY) in the IL-6i-treated group after PSM. The IR of MACEs was 2.56 and 0.83 (per 100 PY) in the JAKi- and IL-6i-treated groups. The IRRs of JAKi-treated patients versus IL-6i-treated patients were 2.13 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67-7.42) for malignancy and 3.03 (95% CI: 0.77-15.21) for MACE. There were no significant differences in IRR for malignancy and MACE between both groups after PSM. Univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses revealed that older age and JAKi use were independent risk factors for malignancy, while older age, hypertension, and JAKi use were independent risk factors for MACEs. The overall malignancy SIR was significantly higher in the JAKi-treated group compared to the general population (2.10/100 PY, 95% CI: 1.23-2.97). Conclusion: The IRs of malignancy and MACE in patients with RA after PSM were comparable between IL-6i-treated and JAKi-treated patients. However, the SIR of malignancy in JAKi treatment was significantly higher than in the general population; therefore, further safety studies comparing JAKi to non-TNFi biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) are needed.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mortality among patients with colorectal cancer in Hiroshima, Japan: A large cancer registry study.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer care and mortality using a large cancer registry in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The study aimed to estimate the all-cause mortality rates within 1 year of diagnosis among colorectal cancer patients diagnosed during the pandemic period (2020 and 2021) compared to those diagnosed during the pre-pandemic period (2018 and 2019). METHODS: The day of diagnosis was set as Day 0 and Cox regression models were utilized to estimate crude hazard ratios (HRs) and adjusted HRs, accounting for age, sex, cancer stage, and treatment status. Two sensitivity analyses of overall survival were performed with different cutoffs of the pre-pandemic/pandemic periods and year-to-year comparisons. Subgroup analyses were performed using likelihood ratio tests. RESULTS: A total of 15,085 colorectal cancer patients were included, with 6499 eligible for follow-up. A median age of included patients was 72 years old, of which 59% were male. The distribution of cancer stages showed little variation between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. With a median follow-up of 177 days, the number of events was 316/3111 (173 events per 1000 person-years [E/1000PY], 95% confidence interval [CI]: 154-192 E/1000PY) in the pre-pandemic period, and 326/2746 (245 E/1000PY, 95% CI: 220-274 E/1000PY) in the pandemic period (crude HR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.22-1.66; adjusted HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.07-1.46). The two sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses consistently supported these findings. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed an increased colorectal cancer mortality during the pandemic period, suggesting a continuous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the known and unknown risk factors for colorectal cancer for several years. Further studies are necessary to mitigate the adverse effects on patient outcomes.

Colchicine-resistant sacroiliitis in a Japanese patient with familial Mediterranean fever.

The articular involvement in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) represents a clinical characteristic of acute monoarthritis with pain and hydrarthrosis, which always resolves spontaneously. Colchicine prevents painful arthritis attacks in most FMF cases. Spondyloarthritis is rarely associated with Japanese patients with FMF. Here, we report a Japanese male patient with FMF-related axial joint involvement. A 43-year-old male Japanese patient who presented with recurrent febrile episodes with hip joint and back pain was referred to our hospital. He carried heterozygous variants in exon 2 (L110P/E148Q) of the MEFV gene. FMF was suspected, and oral administration of colchicine (1 mg/day) was initiated. Colchicine treatment improved his febrile attack with hip joint pain. He was diagnosed as having FMF based on the Tel-Hashomer diagnostic criteria for FMF since he fulfilled one major criterion (repeated febrile attack accompanied by hip joint pain) and one minor criterion (improvement with colchicine treatment). Although the human leucocyte antigen-B27 allele was not detected, sacroiliitis-related symptoms progressed despite the ongoing colchicine treatment. Salazosulphapyridine and methotrexate were administered in addition to colchicine; however, these treatments were not effective. Canakinumab treatment successfully resolved this unique aspect of sacroiliitis, and the patient was finally diagnosed with FMF-associated axial joint involvement.

Shape control of Au nanostructures using peptides for biotechnological applications.

Metallic gold (Au) nanostructures have attracted attentions in various fields of materials science and electrical science in terms of catalysts, sensing systems, photonic devices, and drug delivery systems because of their characteristic physical, chemical, and biocompatible properties. Recently, Au nanostructures with near-infrared light absorbing properties have shown potential for applications such as biological imaging and thermotherapy in biotechnological fields. However, fabrication of Au nanostructures with complex shapes often requires the use of highly biotoxic substances such as surfactants and reducing agents. Peptides are promising compounds for controlling the shape of Au nanostructures by mineralization with several advantages for this purpose. In this highlight, we focus on the shapes with respect to the fabrication of Au nanostructures using biocompatible peptides. We classify the peptides that form Au nanostructures into three broad categories: those that bind Au ions, those that reduce Au ions, and those that control the direction of Au crystal growth. Then, we briefly summarize the correlations between peptide sequences and their roles, and propose future strategies for fabricating Au nanostructures using peptides for biotechnological applications.

Effectiveness of Colchicine or Canakinumab in Japanese Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Single-Center Study.

Background: To investigate the clinical features of Japanese patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), we evaluated the frequency of attacks, treatment responses, and adverse effects in 27 patients with FMF treated with colchicine or canakinumab in a real-world clinical setting. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 27 Japanese patients with FMF treated at our institute between April 2012 and June 2023. All patients were diagnosed with FMF according to the Tel-Hashomer criteria. We performed genetic analyses of the MEFV gene using targeted next-generation sequencing. The clinical response was monitored through the number of attacks, and inflammatory markers were monitored through the C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations. Colchicine resistance was defined as the presence of at least one attack/month despite administration of the maximum tolerated dose of colchicine for at least 6 months, and C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A levels above the normal range between attacks. Results: A total of 27 patients diagnosed with FMF were enrolled in this study and the median follow-up period was 36.4 months. The median attack frequency was 1.0 (interquartile range: 0.33-1.0) every 3 months before treatment initiation. All the patients (n = 27) were treated with colchicine. Among the 27 patients, 20 (71.8%) showed a clinical response and 7 (25.9%) showed an incomplete response with sufficient doses of colchicine (n = 5) and non-sufficient doses (n = 2). Two patients on non-sufficient doses were unable to increase colchicine to the maximum dose due to diarrhea and liver dysfunction. All seven patients achieved a reduction in attack frequency after the initiation of canakinumab. No serious adverse events associated with canakinumab treatment were observed. In these seven patients with colchicine-resistant FMF (crFMF), the MEFV exon 10 variant was not detected, and the absence ratio of the MEFV variant was significantly higher compared to those without crFMF. Conclusions: Colchicine was effective in 71.8% (20/27) of Japanese patients with FMF; however, the remaining patients (7/27) had crFMF. Canakinumab effectively controlled febrile attacks in crFMF, even in the absence of pathogenic MEFV exon 10 variants.

[Left Metastatic Lung Tumor for a Patient with Scimitar Syndrome:Report of a Case].

Scimitar syndrome is a subtype of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection, a rare congenital disorder associated with hypoplasia of the right lung. In addition to the difficulty of isolated lung ventilation, resection of the left lung is associated with the risk of developing right heart failure due to increased right-to-left shunts. We report a case of a left lung metastasis of a patient with scimitar syndrome. The patient, a 58-year-old male, was diagnosed with scimitar syndrome at the age of 26 but had never experienced any symptoms. He underwent chemoradiotherapy for mid-pharynx carcinoma and achieved complete response. During follow-up, a nodule appeared in the lower lobe of the left lung. Since right heart catheterization revealed a pulmonary blood flow/systemic blood flow ratio (Qp/Qs) ratio of 2.6, intra-cardiac blood flow was diverted prior to pulmonary resection. Stanford type A acute aortic dissection occurred intra-operatively, and total aortic arch replacement was performed. Three months later, partial pulmonary resection was performed with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) on standby. As oxygenation was maintained by placing a blocker in the left lower lobe bronchus and ventilating the left upper lobe with high frequency jet ventilation, the operation was completed without using ECMO. The nodule was pathologically diagnosed as metastasis of mid-pharynx carcinoma. He did not develop heart failure and was discharged on post operated day 15.