Complete genome sequences of Lactococcus petauri strains 473AN and 473GN isolated from the blood culture of a Japanese patient with infective endocarditis.

Here, we report the complete genome sequences of Lactococcus petauri strains 473AN and 473GN, isolated from the blood culture of a Japanese patient with infective endocarditis. The complete genomes of 473AN and 473GN consist of single chromosomes of 2,065,772 and 2,094,461 bp, respectively.

Human leucocyte antigens and Japanese patients with polymyalgia rheumatica: the protective effect of DRB1*09:01.

OBJECTIVE: The hallmarks of the chronic inflammatory disease polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) include pain, and morning stiffness in areas of the neck, shoulder and pelvic girdle. The human leucocyte antigen (HLA) gene was reported to be an important risk factor for PMR, but it has not been analysed precisely, especially in populations other than Europeans. METHODS: Genotyping of DRB1 and DQB1 was performed in Japanese PMR patients (n=270) and controls (n=413). Associations between allele carrier and genotype frequencies were determined for PMR. RESULTS: DRB1*04:05 was associated with a predisposition to PMR (p=0.0006, Pc=0.0193, OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.31 to 2.62). DRB1*09:01 was associated with protection against PMR (p=1.46×10-5, Pc=0.0004, OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.61). A shared epitope (SE) associated with PMR (p=3.07×10-6, OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.54 to 2.88). DQB1*03:03 (p=0.0010, Pc=0.0140, OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.77) was associated with protection against PMR and DQB1*04:01 (p=0.0009, Pc=0.0140, OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.28 to 2.58) was associated with predisposition to PMR. A gene dosage effect was observed for DRB1*09:01 and DQB1*03:03, but not for DRB1*04:05, SE or DQB1*04:01. Haplotype and logistic regression analyses suggested a protective effect for DRB1*09:01. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to demonstrate predisposing associations of DRB1*04:05, SE, and DQB1*04:01, and protective associations of DRB1*09:01 and DQB1*03:03 with PMR in Japanese patients. Our data indicate HLA has predisposing and protective effects on the pathogenesis of PMR.

Association of a Single Nucleotide Variant in TERT with Airway Disease in Japanese Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

Interstitial lung disease and airway disease (AD) are often complicated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and have a poor prognosis. Several studies reported genetic associations with interstitial lung disease in RA. However, few genetic studies have examined the susceptibility to AD in RA patients. Here, we investigated whether single nucleotide variants susceptible to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis might be associated with interstitial lung disease or AD in Japanese RA patients. Genotyping of rs2736100 [C/A] in TERT and rs1278769 [G/A] in ATP11A was conducted in 98 RA patients with usual interstitial pneumonia, 120 with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), 227 with AD, and 422 without chronic lung disease using TaqMan assays. An association with AD in RA was found for rs2736100 (p = 0.0043, Pc = 0.0129, odds ratio [OR] 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.77). ATP11A rs1278769 was significantly associated with NSIP in older RA patients (>65 years, p = 0.0010, OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.35-3.40). This study first reported an association of rs2736100 with AD in RA patients and ATP11A rs1278769 with NSIP in older RA patients.

Antibodies against Serum Anti-Melanoma Differentiation-Associated Gene 5 in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Chronic Lung Diseases.

Chronic lung diseases (CLD), including interstitial lung disease (ILD) and airway diseases (ADs), are common complications of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies are reported to be associated with CLD in RA patients. The presence of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibodies (Abs) is associated with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis developing into rapidly progressive ILD. However, few studies on anti-MDA5 Abs in RA have been published. Here, we analyzed the association of anti-MDA5 Abs with CLD complications in RA. Anti-MDA5 Abs were quantified in sera from RA patients with or without CLD. Anti-MDA5 Ab levels were higher in RA patients with ADs than without (mean ± SDM, 4.4 ± 2.4 vs. 4.0 ± 4.2, p = 0.0001). AUC values of anti-MDA5 Ab and RF ROC curves were similar in RA patients with or without CLD (0.578, 95%CI 0.530-0.627 and 0.579, 95%CI 0.530-0.627, respectively, p = 0.9411). Multiple logistic regression analysis of anti-MDA5 Abs and clinical characteristics yielded an MDA5-index with a higher AUC value than anti-MDA5 Ab alone (0.694, 95%CI 0.648-0.740, p = 5.08 × 10-5). Anti-MDA5 Abs were associated with ADs in RA patients and could represent a biomarker for CLD, similar to RF. The involvement of anti-MDA5 Abs in the pathogenesis of ADs in RA is proposed.

Association of a FAM13A variant with interstitial lung disease in Japanese rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) occasionally occurs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and confers a dismal prognosis. We previously reported that a single-nucleotide variant (SNV) of MUC5B was associated with ILD in RA. However, the pathogenesis of ILD in Japanese patients with RA could not be explained solely by this SNV because its frequency is extremely low in the Japanese population. Here, we examined whether a different idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis susceptibility SNV might be associated with ILD in Japanese patients with RA. METHODS: Genotyping of rs2609255 (G/T) in FAM13A was conducted in 208 patients with RA with ILD and 420 without chronic lung disease using TaqMan assays. RESULTS: A significant association with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) in RA was detected for rs2609255 under the allele model (p=0.0092, Pc=0.0276, OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.11) and recessive model for the G allele (p=0.0003, Pc=0.0009, OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.59 to 4.32). FAM13A rs2609255 was significantly associated with UIP in male patients with RA (p=0.0043, OR 3.65, 95% CI 1.52 to 8.73) under the recessive model. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to document an association of rs2609255 with ILD in Japanese patients with RA, implicating it in the pathogenesis of UIP, though studies on the function of rs2609255 are warranted.

Serum rheumatoid factor IgA, anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies with secretory components, and anti-carbamylated protein antibodies associate with interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is often complicated with chronic lung diseases (CLD), including interstitial lung disease (ILD) and airway disease, which occur as extra-articular manifestations. CLD in RA have been associated with the production of rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA), or anti-carbamylated protein (CarP) antibody. However, few validation studies have been performed thus far. In the present study, we investigated the association of RF, ACPA, and anti-CarP antibodies with RA complicated with CLD. METHODS: Sera from RA patients with or without CLD were collected. The levels of serum RF, RF immunoglobulin A (IgA), ACPA IgG, ACPA IgA, and ACPA secretory component (SC) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The comparison of RA patients with and without CLD showed that RF IgA was associated with ILD (mean ± standard deviation: 206.6 ± 400.5 vs. 95.0 ± 523.1 U/ml, respectively, P = 1.13 × 10- 8), particularly usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (263.5 ± 502.0 U/ml, P = 1.00 × 10- 7). ACPA SC was associated with RA complicated with ILD (mean ± standard deviation: 8.6 ± 25.1 vs. 2.3 ± 3.4 U/ml, respectively, P = 0.0003), particularly nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) (10.7 ± 31.5 U/ml, P = 0.0017). Anti-CarP antibodies were associated with RA complicated with ILD (0.042 ± 0.285 vs. 0.003 ± 0.011 U/ml, respectively, P = 1.04X10- 11). CONCLUSION: RF IgA and ACPA SC in RA were associated with UIP and NSIP, respectively, suggesting different specificities in patients with RA. Anti-CarP antibodies were associated with ILD in RA. These results may help elucidate the different pathogeneses of UIP and NSIP in RA.

Streptococcus pyogenes TrxSR Two-Component System Regulates Biofilm Production in Acidic Environments.

Bacteria form biofilms for their protection against environmental stress and produce virulence factors within the biofilm. Biofilm formation in acidified environments is regulated by a two-component system, as shown by studies on isogenic mutants of the sensor protein of the two-component regulatory system in Streptococcus pyogenes. In this study, we found that the LiaS histidine kinase sensor mediates biofilm production and pilus expression in an acidified environment through glucose fermentation. The liaS isogenic mutant produced biofilms in a culture acidified by hydrochloric acid but not glucose, suggesting that the acidified environment is sensed by another protein. In addition, the trxS isogenic mutant could not produce biofilms or activate the mga promoter in an acidified environment. Mass spectrometry analysis showed that TrxS regulates M protein, consistent with the transcriptional regulation of emm, which encodes M protein. Our results demonstrate that biofilm production during environmental acidification is directly under the control of TrxS.

The effect of using light emitting diodes and fluorescent lamps as different light sources in growth inhibition tests of green alga, diatom, and cyanobacteria.

Aquatic organisms have been used to investigate the safety of chemicals worldwide. One such assessment is an algal growth inhibition test. Algal growth inhibition tests are commonly performed using a growth chamber with fluorescent lamps as the lighting source, as test guidelines require continuous uniform fluorescent illumination. However, fluorescent lamps contain mercury, which has been identified as hazardous to humans and other organisms. The Minamata Convention (adopted in 2013) requires reduction or prohibition of products containing mercury. On the other hand, light-emitting diodes do not contain mercury and provide a photosynthetically effective wavelength range of 400-700 nm which is an adequate light intensity for algal growth. Light-emitting diodes are thus preferable to fluorescent lamps as a potential light source in algal growth inhibition tests. In this study, we investigated if light-emitting diodes could be substituted for fluorescent lamps in growth inhibition studies with green alga (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), diatom (Navicula pelliculosa), and cyanobacteria (Anabaena flos-aquae). Algal growth inhibition tests were performed using five different chemicals known to have different modes of action and are assigned as reference substances in the test guidelines. The results of each algal test showed similar values between light-emitting diodes and fluorescent lamps in terms of conditions for the growth inhibition rate and percent inhibition in yield of each chemical. It was therefore concluded that using light-emitting diodes instead of fluorescent lamps as a lighting source had no effect on the algal growth inhibition test results.

Chronic toxicity of 50 metals to Ceriodaphnia dubia.

Metals are essential elements for human life but may cause disorders when exposure is excessive. Previously, we reported on the acute toxicity of 50 metals; however, the chronic toxicity data of some metals are not available. Therefore, we conducted chronic toxicity tests to determine the effects of 50 metals on the water flea, Ceriodaphnia dubia. The IC20 of 20 metals (Be, Sc, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Ru, Ag, Cd, In, Te, W, Os, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl and Pb) were <100 µg/L; nine metals (Al, V, As, Se, Zr, Nb, Rh, Sb and Bi) were 100 ≤ IC20 < 1000 µg/L; 16 metals (Li, Mg, K, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ga, Ge, Rb, Sr, Mo, Sn, Cs, Ba, Re and Ir) were 1000 ≤ IC20 ≤ 100 000 µg/L; and two metals (Na and Ca) were >100 000 µg/L. Three metals (Pd, Hf and Ta) did not show IC20 at the upper limit of respective aqueous solubility, and IC20 s were not obtained. The maximum test concentrations (almost aqueous solubility) of Pd, Hf and Ta were 83, 2400 and 5.3 µg/L, respectively. These data show the high correlation between our IC50 s for C. dubia and those for Dahpnia magna published previously. The IC50 s of 47 metals were not correlated with electronegativity, first ionization energy, atomic weight, atomic number, covalent radius, atomic radius or ionic radius.

Production of genome-edited Daphnia for heavy metal detection by fluorescence.

Aquatic heavy metal pollution is a growing concern. To facilitate heavy metal monitoring in water, we developed transgenic Daphnia that are highly sensitive to heavy metals and respond to them rapidly. Metallothionein A, which was a metal response gene, and its promoter region was obtained from Daphnia magna. A chimeric gene fusing the promoter region with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was integrated into D. magna using the TALEN technique and transgenic Daphnia named D. magna MetalloG were produced. When D. magna MetalloG was exposed to heavy metal solutions for 1 h, GFP expression was induced only in their midgut and hepatopancreas. The lowest concentrations of heavy metals that activated GFP expression were 1.2 µM Zn2+, 130 nM Cu2+, and 70 nM Cd2+. Heavy metal exposure for 24 h could lower the thresholds even further. D. magna MetalloG facilitates aqueous heavy metal detection and might enhance water quality monitoring.

Association of functional (GA)n microsatellite polymorphism in the FLI1 gene with susceptibility to human systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Susceptibility genes that can account for characteristic features of SSc such as fibrosis, vasculopathy and autoimmunity remain to be determined. In mice, deficiency of Friend leukaemia integration 1 transcription factor (Fli1) causes SSc-like disease with these features. The human FLI1 gene contains (GA)n microsatellite, which has been shown to be associated with expression level. Because microsatellite polymorphisms are difficult to capture by genome-wide association studies, we directly genotyped FLI1 (GA)n microsatellite and examined its association with SSc. METHODS: Genomic DNA from 639 Japanese SSc patients and 851 healthy controls was genotyped for (GA)n microsatellite using the fragment assay. The cut-off repeat number for susceptibility to SSc was determined by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Association with susceptibility and clinical characteristics was examined using logistic regression analysis. FLI1 mRNA levels were determined using quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: Based on the ROC analysis, (GA)n alleles with ≥22 repeats were collectively defined as L alleles and alleles with ≤21 repeats as S alleles. (GA)n L alleles were significantly associated with susceptibility to SSc (P = 5.0e-04, odds ratio 1.34, additive model). Significant association was observed both in diffuse cutaneous and limited cutaneous SSc. Among the SSc, (GA)n L alleles were significantly enriched in the patients with a modified Rodnan total skin thickness score ≥10 compared with those with a score <10. FLI1 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in healthy controls carrying (GA)n L alleles as compared with non-carriers. CONCLUSION: Extended repeat alleles of FLI1 (GA)n microsatellite may be associated with lower FLI1 mRNA levels and susceptibility to human SSc.

Concentrations of dabigatran administered after acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anticoagulation intensity of dabigatran for acute ischemic stroke patients and hemorrhagic/ischemic events after early initiation of dabigatran. METHODS: Acute ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients admitted to our hospital who started dabigatran from January 2012 to December 2017 were studied. Blood samples were drawn just before (0 h) and 4 h after dabigatran at a median of 5 days after starting dabigatran to measure dabigatran concentrations (C0h, C4h) based on the thrombin clotting time assay (Hemoclot®). RESULTS: Of the 70 patients (54 men, 69 ± 9 y), 14 started dabigatran after a TIA, and 56 started it after an ischemic stroke a median of 5 days after onset. C0h, C4h was 82.5 ± 58.0, 143.1 ± 98.2 ng/dl (150 mg BID, 35 patients) and 50.6 ± 40.9, 91.2 ± 64.7 ng/ml (110 mg BID, 35 patients). During a median follow-up of 382 (IQR 109-688) days of all 70 patients, five had clinical events. Three patients had bleeding events, two with nasal bleeding (C0h, C4h: 50, 80 ng/ml, C0h, C4h: 91, 173 ng/ml) and one with GI bleeding (C0h, C4h: 5, 5 ng/ml). Two patients had ischemic events, one with ischemic stroke (C0h, C4h: 10, 50 ng/ml) and another with acute myocardial infarction (C0h, C4h: 40, 40 ng/ml). CONCLUSIONS: There was no obvious relationship between dabigatran concentration and hemorrhagic/ischemic events in this study. Larger sample study will be needed to examine the relationship between the concentration and events in clinical practice.

Serum Metabolomic Profiling in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients With Interstitial Lung Disease: A Case-Control Study.

Objectives: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is an extra-articular manifestation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), detected in 10.7% of patients, and causing a poor prognosis. Hence, biomarkers for ILD are urgently required in RA. Low molecular weight metabolites can be assessed by metabolomic analyses, and although these have been conducted in RA and in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, few have been carried out for ILD in the context of RA. Therefore, we analyzed serum metabolomic profiles of ILD in RA to identify novel biomarkers. Methods: Serum samples from 100 RA patients with ILD and 100 matched RA patients without chronic lung disease (CLD) were collected. These samples were subjected to metabolomic analyses using capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Results: A total of 299 metabolites were detected in the metabolomic analysis. By univariate analysis, serum levels of decanoic acid and morpholine were lower in RA with ILD (false discovery rate Q = 1.87 × 10-11 and 7.09 × 10-6, respectively), and glycerol was higher (Q = 1.20 × 10-6), relative to RA without CLD. Serum levels of these metabolites in RA with usual interstitial pneumonia or RA with non-specific interstitial pneumonia were also altered. The partial least squares-discriminant analysis model generated from these three metabolites could successfully discriminate ILD in RA (area under the curve: 0.919, 95% confidence interval: 0.867-0.968, sensitivity 0.880, specificity 0.780). Conclusions: Serum levels of some metabolites were significantly different in RA with ILD compared with RA without CLD. It is concluded that metabolomic profiling will be useful for discovering candidate screening biomarkers for ILD in RA.

Human leukocyte antigen in Japanese patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy.

Objective: The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is the strongest genetic risk factor for idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM), and different HLA alleles have been reported to be associated with IIM susceptibility among different ethnic groups. In this study, we have investigated HLA alleles associated with IIM in Japanese patients.Methods: Genotyping of HLA-DRB1 and DPB1 were performed in 252 Japanese IIM patients (166 dermatomyositis [DM] and 86 polymyositis [PM] patients) and the association was analyzed with comparison to controls (n = 1026 for DRB1 and n = 413 for DPB1).Results: DRB1*08:03 was associated with IIM (p = 1.60 × 10-5, pc = .0005, odds ratio [OR] 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.52-2.92) and DM (p = .0004, pc = .0128, OR 2.06, 95%CI 1.40-3.02). DPB1*05:01 was also associated with IIM (p = .0001, pc = .0021, OR 1.96, 95%CI 1.38-2.77) and DM (p = .0005, pc = .0075, OR 2.05, 95%CI 1.37-3.08). DRB1*09:01 (p = .0012, pc = .0368, OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.18-0.69) and DPB1*04:01(p = .0004, pc = .0057, OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.00-0.85) were protectively associated with PM. Two locus analyses suggested that DRB1*09:01 and DPB1*04:01 were independently associated with PM.Conclusion: Protective associations of HLA were detected in Japanese PM patients.

Association of NCF1 polymorphism with systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis but not with ANCA-associated vasculitis in a Japanese population.

Genome-wide association studies of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Chinese and Korean populations demonstrated strong association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the GTF2I-NCF1 region, rs73366469 (GTF2I), rs117026326 (GTF2I), rs80346167(GTF2IRD1) and rs201802880 (NCF1). This region has also been associated with susceptibility to Sjögren syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis; however, association studies with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) have not been reported. Here we made an attempt to confirm their associations with SLE in the Japanese population, to find the primarily associated SNP, and to investigate whether these SNPs are also associated with susceptibility to SSc and AAV. By genotyping these four SNPs on 842 SLE, 467 SSc, 477 AAV patients and 934 healthy controls, striking association was confirmed in Japanese SLE. In addition, these SNPs were significantly associated with susceptibility to SSc, but not with AAV. Conditional logistic regression analysis revealed that the association of NCF1 rs201802880, a missense SNP encoding p.Arg90His, can account for the association of other SNPs by linkage disequilibrium. These results suggested that GTF2I-NCF1 region is associated with susceptibility to multiple autoimmune rheumatic diseases but not with AAV, and the primarily associated variant may be the missense SNP in NCF1.

A less-intensive anticoagulation protocol of therapeutic unfractionated heparin administration for pregnant patients.

Heparin anticoagulant therapy for thromboembolic disorders during pregnancy is problematic due to unexpected adverse bleeding. To avoid bleeding, we have used a less-intensive anticoagulation protocol of unfractionated heparin (UFH). The protocol had a therapeutic activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) ratio of 1.5-2.0 with the control value, a UFH dose of ≤ 30,000 U/day, and an antithrombin (AT) activity target of ≥ 70%. In the present study, we evaluated this protocol using an anti-Xa assay. We collected UFH-treated plasma samples from ten consecutive pregnant Japanese patients with current or previous thromboembolic disorders. Seven patients remained in the therapeutic APTT ratio range (heparin-sensitive [HS] group). The other three patients had difficulty remaining within the therapeutic range (heparin-resistant [HR] group). In the HR group, two had AT deficiency and one had congenital absence of the inferior vena cava. Of the HS and HR samples, 73% and 31%, respectively, were within the therapeutic anti-Xa activity range 0.3-0.7 U/mL, indicating difficulty for the HR group to remain within the therapeutic range. Neither major bleeding nor symptomatic thromboembolic episodes occurred in either group. These findings suggest that the less-intensive anticoagulation protocol is permissive and may be beneficial in the HS group.

Rivaroxaban concentrations in acute stroke patients with different dosage forms.

BACKGROUND: The crushed-tablet rivaroxaban concentration has been previously reported to be lower than the non-crushed concentration. However, the rivaroxaban concentration of fine granules has not yet been investigated. The anticoagulation intensity of rivaroxaban with fine granules, tablets, and crushed tablets was compared in acute stroke patients to assess the efficacy of each form. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Hospitalized patients over 75 years old with acute stroke who started taking rivaroxaban from April 2012 to September 2017 were included. Blood samples were drawn just before and 4 hours after taking rivaroxaban on a median of 5 days after treatment initiation for concentration measurements (C0h, C4h) based on an anti-factor Xa chromogenic assay. Of 114 patients (49 female, 83±5 years old), 97 had ischemic strokes, 9 had transient ischemic attacks, and 8 had intracerebral hemorrhages. Rivaroxaban was administered a median of 7 days after onset. Of these, 38 patients were given the 15 mg dose, and 76 were given the 10 mg dose. In the 15 mg dose group, C0h was significantly higher in the fine granule group than in the crushed tablet group, with no significant difference compared to the tablet group [C0h: 27.6±6.8 vs 4.0±4.1 (P = 0.01) vs. 33.3±25.2 ng/ml, (P = 0.51), respectively], as was C4h [223.0±66.6 vs 103.0±79.5 (P = 0.02) vs. 229.5±121.6 ng/ml (P = 0.88)]. In the 10 mg dose group, C0h was significantly higher in the fine granule group than in the crushed tablet group and comparable to that in the tablet group [23.2±7.9 vs 7.5±6.2 (P<0.01) vs 19.0±15.8 ng/ml, (P = 0.35)], as was C4h [150.7±85.4 vs 85.1±46.8 (P<0.01) vs 189.8±92.7 ng/ml (P = 0.18)]. CONCLUSIONS: The rivaroxaban concentration with fine granules was consistent with that in the tablet group and higher than that in the crushed tablet group.

Effects of low-dose combined oral contraceptives and protein S K196E mutation on anticoagulation factors: a prospective observational study.

The association between low-dose combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and anticoagulation factors in Japanese women has been rarely studied. A total of 394 Japanese women with a new beginning cycle of COC use were enrolled, of whom 335 women visited the clinic within 4 weeks after starting the first cycle of COC. Visits occurred in the active phase (272 women) and the placebo phase (63 women). Free protein S (PS) antigen and activity levels and antithrombin activity levels decreased significantly in both the active and placebo phase groups. Protein C (PC) activity levels increased significantly in both groups. Larger reductions in free PS antigen and activity levels occurred with COC comprising either 30 µg ethinylestradiol/desogestrel or 20 µg ethinylestradiol/drospirenone than that comprising 35 µg ethinylestradiol/norethisterone. In four women with the Japanese-specific PS K196E mutation, mean PS activity was 65% before COC use and 57% during COC use, indicating further decrease with COC use. In conclusion, decreased antigen and activity levels of PS and antithrombin and increased activity levels of PC were observed even during the first cycle of low-dose COC use. The effects on PS and PC activities were also observed in the hormone-free interval.

Anti-Xa Activity and Event Risk in Patients With Direct Factor Xa Inhibitors Initiated Early After Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Measuring anti-Xa activity (AXA) has been reported as useful for predicting future risk of hemorrhagic and ischemic events in stroke patients taking direct factor Xa inhibitors. We evaluated AXA levels of rivaroxaban or apixaban in acute stroke patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Methods and Results: This was a single-center, prospective, observational study. Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack who were admitted within 7 days of onset and started taking rivaroxaban or apixaban for NVAF between January 2012 and April 2017 were enrolled. AXA was measured at 2 time points: just before (AXAtrough) and 4 h after (AXApeak) taking rivaroxaban or apixaban on the 2nd day or later of administration. Of 156 patients taking rivaroxaban, hemorrhagic events occurred in 13. Patients with hemorrhagic events had higher AXApeak than those without [median (interquartile range): 1.93 (1.11-3.75) vs. 1.35 (0.80-2.00) IU/mL; P<0.01]. Multivariable-adjusted Cox models showed that AXApeak was independently related to the incidence of hemorrhagic events. Of 169 patients taking apixaban, hemorrhagic events occurred in 11. Patients with hemorrhagic events had higher AXAtrough [2.78 (1.90-3.53) vs. 1.42 (0.93-2.08) IU/mL, P<0.01] and AXApeak [4.05 (3.44-4.72) vs. 2.43 (1.79-3.35) IU/mL, P<0.01] than those without. Both AXAtrough and AXApeak were independently related to the incidence of hemorrhagic events. CONCLUSIONS: In these patients who started rivaroxaban or apixaban early after stroke, AXA levels in the early period were related to future hemorrhagic events.

Association of HLA-G 3' Untranslated Region Polymorphisms with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Japanese Population: A Case-Control Association Study.

HLA-G plays a role in fetal-maternal tolerance as well as immunoregulation, and has been suggested to be involved in autoimmune diseases and cancers. HLA-G encodes two potentially functional polymorphisms in the 3' untranslated region, 14bp insertion/deletion (14bp indel, rs371194629) and a single nucleotide polymorphism rs1063320, previously reported to affect HLA-G expression level or splicing isoform and to be associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the results of SLE association studies are inconsistent, probably due to the small sample size of each study and lack of consideration of linkage disequilibrium (LD) with HLA-class II haplotypes in each population. In this study, we performed association studies of these polymorphisms on 843 patients with SLE and 778 healthy controls in a Japanese population, in many of whom HLA-DRB1 alleles have been genotyped at the four-digit level. LD was detected between DRB1*13:02, protective against multiple autoimmune diseases in the Japanese, and the rs1063320 G (D' = 0.86, r2 = 0.02) and with 14bp del (D' = 0.62, r2 = 0.01), but not between SLE-susceptible DRB1*15:01 and HLA-G. Although significant association with overall SLE was not detected, 14bp ins allele was significantly associated with SLE with the age of onset <20 years, when compared with healthy controls (P = 0.0067, PFDR = 0.039, OR 1.44, additive model) or with SLE patients with the age of onset ≥20 (P = 0.033, PFDR = 0.0495, OR 2.09, additive model). This association remained significant after conditioning on DRB1*13:02 or DRB1*15:01. On the other hand, significant association was detected between rs1063320 C and anti-RNP antibody and anti-Sm antibody positive SLE, which was dependent on negative LD with DRB1*13:02. eQTL analysis showed reduced HLA-G mRNA level in 14bp ins/ins individuals. In conclusion, our observations showed that HLA-G 14bp ins allele represents a genetic contribution on early-onset SLE independent of DRB1.