Adjunctive brexpiprazole 1 mg and 2 mg daily for Japanese patients with major depressive disorder following inadequate response to antidepressants: a phase 2/3, randomized, double-blind (BLESS) study.

AIMS: Inadequate antidepressant response interrupts effective treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). The BLESS study evaluates the dosage, efficacy, and safety of brexpiprazole adjunctive therapy in Japanese patients with inadequate antidepressant therapy (ADT) response. METHODS: This placebo-controlled, randomized, multicenter, parallel-group phase 2/3 study randomized Japanese MDD patients (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression 17-item total score ≥ 14; historical inadequate response to 1-3 ADTs) with inadequate response to 8-week single-blind, prospective SSRI/SNRI treatment to 6-week adjunctive treatment with brexpiprazole 1 mg, 2 mg, or placebo. The primary endpoint was change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score from baseline. Secondary endpoints included MADRS response, remission rate, and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement score. Safety was comprehensively evaluated, especially regarding antipsychotic adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: Of 1194 screened patients, 740 were randomized and 736 (1 mg, n = 248; 2 mg, n = 245; placebo, n = 243) had ≥1 baseline/post-baseline MADRS total score. The LSM (SE) change from baseline in MADRS total score at Week 6 by MMRM analysis was -8.5 (0.47) with brexpiprazole 1 mg, -8.2 (0.47) with brexpiprazole 2 mg, and -6.7 (0.47) with placebo (placebo-adjusted LSM difference [95% CI]: 1 mg, -1.7 [-3.0, -0.4]; P = 0.0089; 2 mg, -1.4 [-2.7, -0.1]; P = 0.0312). Secondary efficacy results supported the primary endpoint. Brexpiprazole was generally well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Brexpiprazole 1 mg daily was an appropriate starting dose and both 1 mg and 2 mg daily were effective and well tolerated as adjunctive therapy for Japanese MDD patients not adequately responsive to ADT.

Aripiprazole in the real-world treatment for irritability associated with autism spectrum disorder in children and adolescents in Japan: 52-week post-marketing surveillance.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the post-marketing safety and effectiveness of aripiprazole in treating irritability in pediatric patients (6-17 years) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in actual clinical sites of Japan. METHODS: In this post-marketing surveillance, patients were enrolled into the multicenter, prospective, non-interventional, observational study for 52 weeks, and were dosed with aripiprazole (1-15 mg/day) under daily clinical settings in Japan. RESULTS: In 510 patients, the continuation rate of aripiprazole treatment was 84.6% at day 168 (week 24) and 78.1% at day 364 (week 52). Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurred in 22.7% of patients (n = 116), and the most common ADRs were somnolence (9.4%), followed by weight increased (3.3%). At week 4, the mean change from baseline in the irritability subscale score for the Aberrant Behavior Checklist Japanese version (ABC-J) was - 5.7 ± 6.8 (n = 288). Based on multiple regression analysis, comorbid attention deficit and hyperactivity did not affect the ABC-J irritability subscale score at endpoint. At week 24, the mean change from baseline for the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was - 3.3 ± 4.9 (n = 215) for the total difficulties score and 0.6 ± 1.7 (n = 217) for the prosocial behavior subscale score. CONCLUSIONS: Aripiprazole was well tolerated and effective in the long-term treatment of irritability associated with ASD in Japanese pediatric patients in the real-world clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This surveillance was registered with Clinical Trial.gov (no. NCT03179787 ) on June 7, 2017 (retrospectively registered).

Safety of switching to brexpiprazole in Japanese patients with schizophrenia: A post-hoc analysis of a long-term open-label study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the long-term safety of switching to brexpiprazole from aripiprazole or non-aripiprazole dopamine antagonists. METHODS: Post-hoc analysis of 56-week study of Japanese outpatients with schizophrenia switched to brexpiprazole 2 mg/day over 4-week switching period with further titration (1-4 mg/day) allowed during the 52-week, open-label period. Major assessment items: total/low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-/high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose, body weight and prolactin. Secondary evaluations were related to efficacy, treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs), extrapyramidal symptoms, and corrected QT interval (QTc). RESULTS: 84/186 (45.2%) patients (aripiprazole, 32.9%; non-aripiprazole, 54.8%) discontinued treatment over 56 weeks mainly because of consent withdrawal/adverse events. From baseline to Week 56, both groups showed minimal mean changes in total/LDL-/HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose levels and a slight increase in mean (SD) body weight (aripiprazole, 1.1 [4.4] kg; non-aripiprazole, 0.4 [4.6] kg). Mean prolactin levels increased slightly in the aripiprazole group, but decreased in the non-aripiprazole group. Symptom severity scores decreased similarly in both groups. TEAEs occurred in 161/186 (86.6%) patients (aripiprazole, 84.1% [serious, 9.8%]; non-aripiprazole, 88.5% [serious, 14.4%]). Few changes occurred in extrapyramidal symptom scales or QTc interval. CONCLUSIONS: Switching to brexpiprazole is associated with a low long-term risk for metabolic abnormalities (including weight gain), hyperprolactinemia, extrapyramidal symptoms and QTc changes and minimal changes in psychiatric symptoms.

Serum pepsinogens, gastrin-17 and Helicobacter pylori antibody in the residents of two cities in china with distinct mortality rates of gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors causing death in Fujian Province, China. However, the mortality of gastric cancer is greatly varied in different areas in Fujian; for example, the mortality in Changle City is 7.4 times higher than that in Fuan City. In this study, we compared the differences in serological parameters, pepsinogen (PG) I, PG II, gastrin-17 (G-17), and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) antibody, between the two cities. It has been reported that low serum PG I is correlated with atrophic gastritis, a high-risk condition for developing gastric cancer, while high serum G-17 has been used for serological detection of atrophic corpus gastritis. We recruited 224 healthy subjects in Changle and 229 healthy subjects in Fuan, matched in age and sex. The serum levels of PG II and G-17 were significantly higher in Changle than those in Fuan. Importantly, the frequency of the subjects with low serum PG I (< 25 µg/L) was significantly higher in Changle than in Fuan, although the serum PG I levels were similar between the two cities. Moreover, the percentage of the subjects with high serum G-17 (≥ 2 pmol/L) and the positive rate of serum IgG antibody against H. pylori were significantly higher in Changle than those in Fuan. The detected differences in these serological parameters are consistent with the notion that the prevalence of atrophic gastritis may be higher in Changle than in Fuan, which results in a higher risk condition for developing gastric cancer in Changle.

Boundary conditions for the Boltzmann equation from gas-surface interaction kinetic models.

Boundary conditions for the Boltzmann equation are investigated on the basis of a kinetic model for gas-surface interactions. The model takes into account gas and physisorbed molecules interacting with a surface potential and colliding with phonons. The potential field is generated by fixed crystal molecules, and the interaction with phonons represents the fluctuating part of the surface. The interaction layer is assumed to be thinner than the mean free path of the gas and physisorbed molecules, and the phonons are assumed to be at equilibrium. The asymptotic kinetic equation for the inner physisorbate layer is derived and used to investigate gas distribution boundary conditions. To be more specific, a model of the boundary condition for the Boltzmann equation is derived on the basis of an approximate iterative solution of the kinetic equation for the physisorbate layer, and the quality of the model is assessed by detailed numerical simulations, which also clarify the behavior of the molecules in the layer.

Long-term administration of the fungus toxin, sterigmatocystin, induces intestinal metaplasia and increases the proliferative activity of PCNA, p53, and MDM2 in the gastric mucosa of aged Mongolian gerbils.

OBJECTIVE: The causal agents of gastric cancer could include fungus toxins. Sterigmatocystin (ST), a fungus toxin, is a risk factor of gastric cancer. We investigated the effects of ST on the stomach tissues of Mongolian gerbils. METHODS: Seventy-five-week-old male Mongolian gerbils received ST ad libitum at a concentration of 0 ppb (non-treated, n = 11), 100 ppb (n = 7), or 1000 ppb (n = 13) dissolved in drinking water for a period of 24 weeks. After administration, we tested the histopathological changes and immunostaining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53, and MDM2 expression. RESULTS: We investigated the histopathological changes and determined the incidence of histopathological changes in animals with various gastric diseases after ST administration at a dose of 0 ppb (non-treated control), 100, or 1,000 ppb as follows: firstly, indices for gastritis were 18.2, 100, and 100%, those for erosion events were 9.1, 100, and 92.3%, and those for polyps were 0, 71.4, and 61.5%, respectively. These incidences in the ST-administered groups (100 or 1000 ppb) showed significant increases compared with those in the non-treated control group. And, lastly, indices for intestinal metaplasia were 0, 100, and 15.4%, respectively. Furthermore, immunostaining for PCNA, p53, and MDM2 expression showed significantly greater rates in the ST-administered groups (100 or 1000 ppb) than in the non-treated control group. CONCLUSION: The histopathological and immunohistopathological findings of this study indicate that ST exerts a marked influence on gastric mucus and gland cells, showing dominant gastritis, erosion events, polyps, and intestinal metaplasia in these animals.

Two-temperature Navier-Stokes equations for a polyatomic gas derived from kinetic theory.

A polyatomic gas with slow relaxation of the internal modes is considered, and the Navier-Stokes equations with two temperatures, the translational and internal temperatures, are derived for such a gas on the basis of the ellipsoidal-statistical (ES) model of the Boltzmann equation for a polyatomic gas, proposed by Andries et al. [Eur. J. Mech. B, Fluids 19, 813 (2000)10.1016/S0997-7546(00)01103-1], by the Chapman-Enskog procedure. Then, the derived equations are applied to numerically investigate the structure of a plane shock wave in CO_{2} gas, which is known to have slowly relaxing internal modes. The results show good agreement with those obtained by the direct numerical analysis of the ES model for moderately strong shock waves. In particular, the results perfectly reproduce the double-layer structure of the shock profiles consisting of a thin front layer with rapid change and a thick rear layer with slow relaxation of the internal modes.

Approach to steady motion of a plate moving in a free-molecular gas under a constant external force.

A thin plate accelerated or decelerated in a free-molecular gas at rest by a constant external force is considered. The force is in the direction perpendicular to the plate. In this situation, the plate velocity approaches its final constant velocity as time goes on. It is shown numerically that, under the diffuse-reflection boundary condition, the difference between the plate velocity and its final value decreases in proportion to an inverse power of time. This agrees with the previous theoretical result obtained under the assumption that the initial plate velocity is sufficiently close to the final one.

Effects of cow's milk on reproduction in ICR male mice.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Cow's milk on the reproduction in male mice. METHODS: Twenty-four male mice were divided randomly into two groups: milk group (M) and control group (C). Each mouse was given 10 mL milk per day from 4 to 16 weeks in the group M. At the age of 17 weeks, all the mice were sacrificed. RESULTS: Serum testosterone was decreased in the group M (P=0.037). No significant difference was found in weight of testes, seminal vesicle or adrenal gland of mice between the groups C and M. However, the weight of seminal vesicle decreased when expressed in g/100 g body weight in the group M. Epididymal sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and sperm head number were not affected by milk. CONCLUSION: Cow's milk has adverse effects on the reproductive system in ICR male mice. Further studies are needed to clarify the specific effects of milk on reproductive health.

Kinetic model of adsorption on crystal surfaces.

A kinetic theory model describing physisorption and chemisorption of gas particles on a crystal surface is introduced. A single kinetic equation is used to model gas and physisorbed particles interacting with a crystal potential and colliding with phonons. The phonons are assumed to be at equilibrium and the physisorbate-gas equation is coupled to similar kinetic equations describing chemisorbed particles and crystal atoms on the surface. A kinetic entropy is introduced for the coupled system and the H theorem is established. Using the Chapman-Enskog method with a fluid scaling, the asymptotic structure of the adsorbate is investigated and fluid boundary conditions are derived from the kinetic model.

Effect of NaCl and Helicobacter pylori vacuolating cytotoxin on cytokine expression and viability.

AIM: To determine whether Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) regulates release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-8, TNF-alpha, and IL-6) or alters gastric epithelial cell viability and to determine whether NaCl affects these VacA-induced changes. METHODS: Vacuolating activity was determined by measuring the uptake of neutral red into vacuoles of VacA-treated human gastric epithelial (AGS) cells. AGS cell viability was assessed by direct cell counting. Specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) were performed to examine the effects of H pylori VacA and NaCl on cell pro-inflammatory cytokine production in AGS cells. Immunohistochemical staining of gastric tissue from Mongolian gerbils was used to confirm VacA-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production and the effects of NaCl on this VacA-induced response. RESULTS: Addition of VacA alone reduced AGS cell viability (P < 0.05), and this reduction was enhanced by high doses of NaCl (P < 0.05). VacA alone induced expression of TNF-alpha, IL-8 and IL-1beta, while NaCl alone induced expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta. Changes in mRNA levels in the presence of both VacA and NaCl were more complicated. For the case of TNF-alpha, expression was dose-dependent on NaCl. IL-6 mRNA was not detected. However, low levels of IL-6 were detected by ELISA. Positive immunohistochemical staining of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha was found in gastric tissue of H pylori-infected gerbils fed with either a normal diet or a high salt diet. However, the staining of these three cytokines was stronger in H pylori-infected animals fed with a 5 g/kg NaCl diet. CONCLUSION: VacA decreases the viability of AGS cells, and this effect can be enhanced by NaCl. NaCl also affects the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by VacA, suggesting that NaCl plays an important role in H pylori-induced gastric epithelial cell cytotoxicity.

Sodium nitrite-induced cytotoxicity in cultured human gastric epithelial cells.

To investigate the effect of sodium nitrite on the viability of the human gastric adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line, AGS, cultured AGS cells were exposed to various concentrations of sodium nitrite for 24, 48 or 72 h. The cytotoxic response was assessed using a cell proliferation assay, and the extent of the response was evaluated on the basis of intracellular and extracellular levels of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha). Both mRNA and protein levels were measured for each cytokine. Sodium nitrite had a significant effect on AGS cell proliferation after a 72-h exposure. At low sodium nitrite concentrations (up to 6.25 mM), cell proliferation increased in a dose-dependent manner; however, exposure to higher concentrations resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation. Sodium nitrite at a low concentration (6.25 mM) increased IL-8 release, whereas IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha release increased only after exposure to high sodium nitrite concentration (25 mM). Our data demonstrate that sodium nitrite can induce the release of these inflammatory cytokines and that high concentrations of sodium nitrite decrease AGS cell proliferation.

Linear stability of the cylindrical Couette flow of a rarefied gas.

A rarefied gas between two coaxial circular cylinders of infinite length, rotating with different angular velocities and kept at a common temperature, is considered. The stability of the circumferentially as well as axially uniform flow (cylindrical Couette flow) for circumferentially uniform small disturbances is investigated on the basis of kinetic theory. The linear-stability analysis is performed using the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook model of the Boltzmann equation and the diffuse reflection condition on the cylinders. The maximum growth rate of the disturbances is determined numerically by solving the initial and boundary value problem for the disturbances for relatively small Knudsen numbers and wide ranges of angular velocities of the cylinders. As a result, the parameter range where the cylindrical Couette flow is unstable is clarified. The result is compared with the corresponding result based on the continuum model of the compressible Navier-Stokes type. A comparison is also made with the result of a direct numerical analysis of the original Boltzmann system, obtained by the direct simulation Monte Carlo method in previous papers as well as in the present study.

Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors, Sleeping Environment, for Allergic Diseases in Infant: Analysis of a Data Subset from the South Kyushu and Okinawa Study Area of Japan Environment and Children's Study.

OBJECTIVES: The incidence of infant allergic diseases have increased recently, and it may be caused by multiple influences of both genetic and environmental factors from the fetal stage through infancy. In this study, we analyzed a data subset from the South Kyushu and Okinawa (SKO) Study Area of Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS) to determine the relationship of allergic diseases in infants with mothers' characteristics and/or infants' life habits, especially sleeping. METHODS: A total of 3873 mother-infant pairs from the SKO Regional Center of JECS were included. The mothers responded to questionnaires in the first trimester of their pregnancy and the self-reported questionnaire when their infants were 1 year old. Student's t-test, chi-square test, trend test, and logistic regression analysis were carried out to analyze the associations between the infants' allergic diseases and the mothers' genetic characteristics and/or sleeping habits of infants. RESULTS: Maternal allergic diseases were significantly associated with increased infant allergy risk (OR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.63-2.27). The number of allergic diseases of mothers was also significantly associated with infant allergy, and the trend test showed an increasing risk of infant allergy (p<0.001). Regarding infants' life habits, the infants who sleep in the prone position had a higher allergic disease risk than those who sleep in other positions (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.17-1.83). These significant associations were observed regardless of the presence of allergy in mothers. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the development of allergic diseases in infants may be caused by the multiple participation of both genetic and environmental factors.

Comparison of prevalence of chronic atrophic gastritis in Japan, China, Tanzania, and the Dominican Republic.

PURPOSE: To compare the prevalence of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) in Japan, China, Tanzania, and the Dominican Republic and to assess the usefulness of Helicobacter pylori infection and serum gastrin level as markers of CAG. METHODS: The subjects were volunteers from local communities in Japan (n=859), China (n=1741), Tanzania (n=573), and the Dominican Republic (n=1215). Each individual underwent a health checkup and blood sampling for measurement of serum pepsinogen I and II, pepsinogen I /II ratio, serum gastrin, and H. pylori antibodies, and responded to a questionnaire on upper digestive tract diseases. RESULTS: The prevalences of H. pylori infection (23.5-96.1%), CAG (5.6-60.4%), and serum gastrin (62.0-136.5 pg/ml) varied by age, sex, and country. Serum gastrin level for men differed in each country according to age. In Tanzanian men, the median gastrin level (101.0 pg/ml) was the highest in the 40 to 49 years age group (p < 0.01) while there was no significant difference among different age groups in Tanzanian women. Serum gastrin level in subjects > or = 70 years was higher than in other age groups in both sexes in the Dominican Republic (males, 92.5, females, 136.5 pg/ml). The prevalence of H. pylori infection increased (p < 0.01) with advancing age in Japan (only for women) and the Dominican Republic but was high in all age groups of both sexes in China and Tanzania. The prevalence of CAG increased (p < 0.01) with age in both sexes in Japan, China (women only), and the Dominican Republic, but not in Tanzania. The odds ratio of CAG in H. pylori infected subjects was 5.3 times that in H. pylori-negative subjects. The odds ratio of CAG increased by 0.6%/1 pg/ml increase in serum gastrin. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that H. pylori infection, serum gastrin, and advancing age are good markers of CAG and that the prevalence of CAG is the highest in Japan.

Are sperm parameters the best indicator of 2,5-hexanedione reproductive toxicity in male rats?

In this study on 40 male Wistar rats of approximately 3-weeks-old, the effects of 2,5-hexanedione on sperm principal parameters were examined by subcutaneously administering 100, 200 and 400 mg/(kgday) for 12 weeks. Other indicators of 2,5-hexanedione intoxication were examined: testes, epididymides, body weight, limb paralysis and histology. The sperm motility was adversely affected in all of the three treatment groups. No sperm motility at all was observed in the 200 and 400 mg/(kgday) treatment groups and rapid progressive motility was significantly reduced in the 100 mg/(kgday) group (P<0.05). The sperm concentration and morphology, testes, epididymides and body weight were significantly affected in the 200 and 400 mg/(kgday) groups but not in the 100 mg/(kgday) group (P<0.05). All the rats in the 400 mg/(kgday) group could not move due to leg paralysis, whereas only 50% of the rats in the 200mg/(kgday) group and none in the 100 mg/(kgday) were affected. Histological examination of the testes in the 400, 200 and 100 mg/(kgday) groups revealed Sertoli cell-only syndrome in 70, 30 and 0% of the rats, respectively. In conclusion, this study has shown that sperm motility was the most significantly sensitive indicator of 2,5-hexanedione intoxication in all the treatment groups.

Effect of sodium acetate on cell proliferation and induction of proinflammatory cytokines: a preliminary evaluation.

We have studied the effect of sodium acetate exposure on the viability and proliferative activity of cultured human gastric adenocarcinoma epithelial (AGS) cells and changes in the release of proinflammatory cytokines. We evaluated the levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-8, and IL-1beta in cell culture supernatants using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and cytokine mRNA levels were measured in whole cells using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. We also measured cytokine levels in mice using immunohistochemistry. In vitro studies demonstrated that incubation with sodium acetate (up to 12.5 mM) for 72 h stimulated AGS cell viability and proliferation in a dose-dependent manner; however, incubation with >12.5 mM sodium acetate inhibited cell growth, also in a dose-dependent manner (the largest decrease in viability was >50%). Incubation with sodium acetate for 24 h increased the levels of IL-1beta, IL-8, and TNF-alpha protein and mRNAs (IL-6 was detected but its mRNA was not). The effect of sodium acetate on the expression of these cytokines in cell culture was verified in mice. Our data suggest that ingestion of high concentrations of sodium acetate in food has cytotoxic effects.

Motion of an array of plates in a rarefied gas caused by radiometric force.

In a rarefied gas in an infinitely long channel between two parallel plates, an array of infinitely many plates, arranged longitudinally with uniform interval, is placed along the channel. The array is assumed to be freely movable along the channel. If one side of each plate is heated, the radiometric force acts on it, and the array starts moving toward the cold sides of the plates. The final steady motion of the array, as well as the corresponding behavior of the gas, is investigated numerically on the basis of kinetic theory using the ellipsoidal statistical model of the Boltzmann equation. As the solution method, a finite-difference method, with a method of characteristics incorporated, that is able to capture the discontinuity in the velocity distribution function is employed. As the result, the local flow field near the edges of the plates and the terminal velocity of the array are obtained accurately for relatively small Knudsen numbers.

Inhibition of vacuolation toxin activity of Helicobacter pylori by iodine, nitrite and potentiation by sodium chloride, sterigmatocystin and fluoride.

The toxin VacA produced by Helicobacter pylori is an important determinant of virulence. VacA causes vacuolation of cultured cells such as HeLa cells. Iodine, nitrite, sodium chloride, thiocyanate and fungus toxin sterigmatocystin are universally present in nature and could possibly be related to carcinogenesis of the stomach. The present study was designed to examine the effects of the above-mentioned compound on VacA-induced vacuolation of HeLa cells, which was quantitated using the neutral red uptake assay. VacA-induced vacuolation was inhibited by BafA1 and NPPB. Formation of large vacuoles was inhibited in the presence of iodine, nitrite, but enhanced by sodium chloride, thiocyanate, fluoride and sterigmatocystin. Our results indicate that VacA toxin may interact with other gastric cancer risk factors present naturally in the environment, and suggest that those compounds may modulate the development of gastric cancer induced by H. pylori.

Poiseuille-type flow of a rarefied gas between two parallel plates driven by a uniform external force.

A unidirectional flow of a rarefied gas between two parallel plates driven by a uniform external force is investigated on the basis of kinetic theory with special interest in the behavior in the near continuum regime. The Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook (BGK) model of the Boltzmann equation and the diffuse reflection boundary condition are employed as the basic system. First, a systematic asymptotic analysis of the basic system for small Knudsen numbers is carried out, and a system of fluid-dynamic-type equations and their boundary conditions are derived up to the second order in the Knudsen number. Then, an accurate numerical analysis of the original BGK system is performed for a wide range of the Knudsen number by means of a finite-difference method. The behavior of the gas, such as the non-Navier-Stokes effects in the near continuum regime, is clarified on the basis of the fluid-dynamic-type system as well as the numerical solution of the BGK system.