Efficacy of primary treatment with immunoglobulin plus ciclosporin for prevention of coronary artery abnormalities in patients with Kawasaki disease predicted to be at increased risk of non-response to intravenous immunoglobulin (KAICA): a randomised controlled, open-label, blinded-endpoints, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Genetic studies have indicated possible involvement of the upregulated calcium-nuclear factor of activated T cells pathway in the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease. We aimed to assess safety and efficacy of ciclosporin, an immunosuppressant targeting this pathway, for protection of patients with Kawasaki disease against coronary artery abnormalities. METHODS: We did a randomised, open-label, blinded endpoints trial involving 22 hospitals in Japan between May 29, 2014, and Dec 27, 2016. Eligible patients predicted to be at higher risk for intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance were randomly assigned to IVIG plus ciclosporin (5 mg/kg per day for 5 days; study treatment) or IVIG (conventional treatment) groups, stratified by risk score, age, and sex. The primary endpoint was incidence of coronary artery abnormalities using Japanese criteria during the 12-week trial, assessed in participants who received at least one dose of study drug and who visited the study institution at least once during treatment. This trial is registered to Center for Clinical Trials, Japan Medical Association, number JMA-IIA00174. FINDINGS: We enrolled 175 participants. One patient withdrew consent after enrolment and was excluded and one patient (in the study treatment group) was excluded from analysis because of lost echocardiography data. Incidence of coronary artery abnormalities was lower in the study treatment group than in the conventional treatment group (12 [14%] of 86 patients vs 27 [31%] of 87 patients; risk ratio 0·46; 95% CI 0·25-0·86; p=0·010). No difference was found in the incidence of adverse events between the groups (9% vs 7%; p=0·78). INTERPRETATION: Combined primary therapy with IVIG and ciclosporin was safe and effective for favourable coronary artery outcomes in Kawasaki disease patients who were predicted to be unresponsive to IVIG. FUNDING: Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (grant CCT-B-2503).

Sivelestat sodium hydrate treatment for refractory Kawasaki disease.

BACKGROUND: There is still no definite treatment for refractory Kawasaki disease (KD). In this pilot study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of a new protocol consisting of sivelestat sodium hydrate (SSH) combined with additional i.v. immunoglobulin (IVIG) for KD resistant to initial IVIG therapy. METHODS: This study is a prospective non-randomized, open-label and single-arm study undertaken in a population of refractory KD patients at Chiba University Hospital from December 2006 to March 2016. The subjects had KD resistant to initial IVIG (2 g/kg) and received SSH (0.2 mg/kg/h for 5 days) combined with additional IVIG (2 g/kg) as a second-line therapy. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the treatment during the study period. RESULTS: Forty-six KD patients were enrolled in this study and no serious adverse event was noted. Of these, 45 patients were evaluated for the incidence of coronary artery lesions, which occurred in one patient (2.2%; 95% CI: 0.5-15.2). Twenty-eight (62.2%) responded promptly and were afebrile after the therapy. The median total duration of fever was 8 days (range, 6-28 days). CONCLUSIONS: Additional IVIG combined with SSH as a second-line therapy for KD refractory to initial IVIG therapy was safe and well tolerated and could be a promising option for severe KD. Further investigations are expected to clarify the safety and timing of SSH treatment for KD.

Long-Term Levocarnitine Ameliorates Left Ventricular Diastolic as Well as Systolic Dysfunction in Hemodialysis Patients　- Multi-Center Study.

Background: Levocarnitine has been reported to improve the left ventricular (LV) systolic function and decrease LV hypertrophy in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Its effect on LV diastolic dysfunction, however, has not yet been clarified. Methods and Results: HD patients (n=88) were given levocarnitine i.v. 1,000 mg for 12 months at the end of every dialysis session through the dialysis circuit of the venous site. LV ejection fraction (EF), E/A, E/e', left atrial volume index (LAVI) and LV mass index (LVMI) were measured before and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the start of levocarnitine on echocardiography. We regarded E/A≤0.8, E/e'>14 and LAVI>34 mL/m2 as LV diastolic dysfunction, and LVEF<55% as LV systolic dysfunction. We also investigated the effect of levocarnitine on HFpEF. Plasma brain natriuretic peptide, total carnitine, free carnitine, and acyl-carnitine and biochemistry parameters were measured. Levocarnitine significantly improved LV diastolic function in HD patients with LV diastolic dysfunction, but did not affect LV diastolic function in those with normal LV diastolic function. Levocarnitine significantly improved HFpEF. Levocarnitine significantly improved the LV systolic function in HD patients with LV systolic dysfunction but did not affect the LV systolic function in those with normal LV systolic function. Levocarnitine significantly decreased LVMI and increased plasma total, free, and acyl-carnitine. Conclusions: Levocarnitine ameliorates LV diastolic as well as LV systolic dysfunction in HD patients.

RNAi mediated inhibition of viroid infection in transgenic plants expressing viroid-specific small RNAs derived from various functional domains.

Previous attempts to develop RNAi-mediated viroid-resistant transgenic plants using nearly full-length Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) hairpin RNA (hpRNA) were successful; however unusual phenotypes resembling viroid infection occurred. Therefore, in the present work, transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana lines expressing both partial and truncated versions of PSTVd hpRNA were developed. Specifically, seven partial or truncated versions of PSTVd sequences were selected according to the hotspots of both PSTVd-sRNAs and functional domains of the PSTVd. A total of 21 transgenic lines Nicotiana benthamiana were developed under the control of either the CaMV-35S or the CoYMV promoters. All of the transgenic lines established here were monitored for the induction of phenotypic changes, for PSTVd-sRNA expression and for the resistance against PSTVd infection. Additionally, this study demonstrates the use of inverted repeat construct sequences as short as 26- to -49 nucleotides for both the efficient expression of the PSTVd-sRNA and the inhibition of PSTVd infection.

Rhabdomyolysis associated with influenza A/H1N1 2009 infection in a pediatric patient.

The influenza A/H1N1 2009 epidemic has spread to many countries since 2009, including Japan. We report an immune-competent child involving rhabdomyolysis and compartment syndrome associated with influenza A/H1N1 2009. The patient was demonstrated rhabdomyolysis with myoglobinuria, hyperkalemia, cardiac dysfunction and compartment syndrome that arose during convalescence from influenza A/H1N1 2009 infection. Although RT-PCR of muscle tissue yielded negative results for influenza A/H1N1 2009 RNA and no viral positive-antigen cells were detected in the muscle lesions, the clinical picture suggested rhabdomyolysis associated with influenza A/H1N1. Rhabdomyolysis should be considered in the evaluation of muscle symptoms such as myalgia associated with novel influenza A/H1N1 2009 virus infection, particularly in critically ill patients.

Right ventricular plication in a neonate with an unguarded tricuspid valvar orifice.

Unguarded tricuspid orifice is a congenital cardiac malformation characterized by absence of the tricuspid valvar leaflets in the setting of a normal atrioventricular junction and obligatory severe tricuspid regurgitation. A neonate with such a lesion presented with severe cardiac failure. The right atrium and ventricle were grossly dilated, and there were small muscular ventricular septal defects. We plicated the right-sided structures to create space for adequate expansion of the lungs and left ventricular filling, proceeding to staged conversion to the Fontan circulation. Our experience shows that neonates with cardiac failure due to dilated right-sided structures can be stabilized by surgical plication.

C-reactive protein, lipoprotein(a), homocysteine, and male sex contribute to carotid atherosclerosis in peritoneal dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: In patients with end-stage renal disease, the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease are substantially greater than in the general population. Advancement in understanding the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic vascular disease suggests a central role of inflammation in atherogenesis. However, clinical data evaluating the role of inflammation in atherogenesis are sparse in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. METHODS: We measured serum C-reactive protein (CRP), intact parathyroid hormone, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), tumor necrosis factor soluble receptor (TNF-sR), fibrinogen, and plasma homocysteine (Hcy), as well as intima-media thickness (IMT) and number of atherosclerotic plaques (plaque score [PS]) in the carotid arteries by means of carotid B-mode ultrasonography in 59 PD patients (35 men, 24 women; mean age, 52.4 years; average dialysis period, 36 months). All patients had chronic glomerulonephritis. RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent of PD patients had at least 1 plaque. Serum CRP level was greater than the upper limit of the normal range in 52.5% of patients. Compared with PD patients with normal CRP levels, concentrations of such proinflammatory cytokines as IL-1Ra and TNF-sR, Lp(a), and Hcy were increased in PD patients with elevated CRP levels. However, no differences in plasma fibrinogen and intact parathyroid hormone levels were found between PD patients with increased and normal CRP levels. In a multiple regression model, age, male sex, CRP level, and Lp(a) level were independent predictors of IMT. Similarly, male sex, CRP level, Lp(a) level, and Hcy level were independent correlates of PS. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Lp(a) and Hcy levels and male sex, and especially CRP level, have an important role in carotid atherosclerosis in PD patients.