Assessment of Diagnosis Timing of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Working-Age Workers with Psychiatric Diseases Using Large Claims Data.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common developmental disorder. This study aims to clarify the timing of diagnosis of ADHD in working-age workers with psychiatric comorbidities using large claims data in Japan. Based on a literature survey, we identified 10 typical comorbidities of ADHD. Among 3064162 participants with social insurance, 215060 working-age workers who were diagnosed with the 10 typical comorbidities of ADHD were included. Cohort 1 consisted of 96994 patients with the index date set as the earliest date of diagnosis of a comorbidity within the 12-month screening and 12-month observation periods. In cohort 2, 107436 patients were included, and the first date of diagnosis of each comorbidity was used as the index month. In cohort 1, 0.19% of the patients were diagnosed with ADHD after being diagnosed with a typical comorbidity. In cohort 2, 4 out of 4 patients with ADHD and obsessive-compulsive disorders were diagnosis ADHD after obsessive-compulsive disorders. Pervasive developmental disorders were the highest comorbidity of ADHD for 62 out of 566 (11.0%) patients. This is the first study to determine the proportion of ADHD with typical comorbidities in working-age workers in Japan. Our findings highlight the need for timely diagnosis of ADHD to improve patients' QOL.

Investigation of Hypersensitivity Reactions in Carboplatin Desensitization Therapy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Carboplatin is a key drug in the treatment of ovarian cancer, but hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) may occur with repeated use. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven ovarian cancer patients treated with carboplatin desensitization therapy were reviewed retrospectively. The treatment completion rate and toxicity were examined. RESULTS: The carboplatin desensitization completion rate was 86.5%. Toxicity was Grade 0, 1, 2, and 3 in 17, 5, 10, and 5 patients, respectively. Erythema was the most frequent toxicity (36.8%), most commonly affecting the arm (23.5%). Furthermore, all HSRs were classified into: skin, respiratory, digestive, circulatory, and neurological. The completion rate of desensitization was significantly lower in patients with two or more target organs affected (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The main symptoms of HSRs, the most common sites of HSRs, and the criteria for discontinuing desensitization therapy identified in this study are useful information for the safe implementation of carboplatin desensitization therapy.

Anti-inflammatory effects of new catechin derivatives in a hapten-induced mouse contact dermatitis model.

Contact dermatitis is a common skin disease, with various treatments available to dermatologists. According to general guidelines, the first line of treatment involves topical steroids; however, this treatment has application-site restrictions in order to avoid adverse cutaneous events. Accordingly, increased demand exists for the development of new treatments. In Japan, the recent use of catechin-containing health foods and their beneficial effects has attracted attention. Indeed, several studies have examined the anticancer, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of catechins. In this study, we synthesized planar catechin (PC) from natural (+)-catechin, and further chemically modified it with the intent to clarify the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of new catechin derivatives. Methylate-PC (methyl PC) and acetylate-PC (acetyl PC) were modified to increase lipid solubility. Their antioxidant effects were examined with electron spin resonance by evaluating the ability to remove hydroxyl radicals. In vitro, the antioxidant effects were in the order of PC > (+)-catechin > acetyl PC > methyl PC. In addition, we used a 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNFB)-induced allergic contact dermatitis model in BALB/c mice. Our results demonstrated that catechin derivatives inhibited ear swelling induced by DNFB, with acetyl PC demonstrating a greater inhibitory effect than PC and methyl PC. Moreover, acetyl PC downregulated the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-4, as well as myeloperoxidase activity, in the ear tissue of DNFB-treated mice. Collectively, our novel findings suggest that catechin derivatives may be a promising new choice for the treatment of contact dermatitis.