Analysis of Differences in Preterm Birth Rates According to Household Occupation in Japan From 2007 to 2019

ObjectivesNo studies have examined the association between preterm birth rates and socioeconomic factors in Japan using nationwide statistical data. We analyzed the association between preterm birth rates and household occupation using Vital Statistics data.MethodsAggregated Vital Statistics data from Japan from 2007 to 2019 were obtained from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. From the data, the number of births according to year, age group, gestational period, number of pregnancies, and household occupation were used in this study. Crude preterm birth rates and preterm birth rates adjusted by maternal age according to household occupation were calculated for each year. Poisson regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between household occupation and preterm births.ResultsUnemployed households had the highest preterm birth rate, and households with an occupation classification of “full-time worker 2” (an employee at a large company, civil servant, or board member) had the lowest preterm birth rate throughout each period. Poisson regression analysis revealed that unemployed households were statistically significantly associated with a high preterm birth risk. In contrast, the preterm birth rate adjusted by maternal age remained stable throughout each period regardless of household occupation, and preterm birth rates were found not to have increased in recent years in Japan.ConclusionsUnemployed households had higher preterm birth rates than other household occupations. Further studies investigating the characteristics of unemployed households are needed to identify the reasons for this disparity.     

Ultrasound-guided local injection of methotrexate to treat an invasive hydatidiform mole

A 28-year-old Japanese woman had an invasive hydatidiform mole which was diagnosed by means of transvaginal ultrasonography. After the two initial courses of systemic methotrexate (MTX) therapy given over a period of weeks, the tumor was 14 mm in diameter and the surrounding blood supply remained rich. In addition to the two initial courses of systemic MTX therapy, local ultrasound-guided injection of MTX therapy was given three times, once per week. After the local MTX treatment, the betahCG level, which had been as high as 240 ng/mL, dropped to less than 0.1 ng/mL. We then gave two additional courses of systemic MTX therapy (once per week). More than 3 years have passed since the final systemic MTX therapy, and the patient's serum betahCG levels continue to be less than 0.1 ng/mL. An invasive mole can be treated with an ultrasound-guided local injection of MTX in addition to the established systemic MTX treatment.     

Involvement of catalase in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis and adenomyosis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the distribution of catalase in eutopic and ectopic endometria in patients with endometriosis or adenomyosis. DESIGN: Retrospective randomized study. SETTING: Department of obstetrics and gynecology in a university hospital. PATIENT(S): Thirty-three patients with endometriosis, 36 with adenomyosis, and 47 fertile controls (total, 116 women). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Semiquantitative immunostaining of endometrial cells obtained by biopsy sampling, followed by calculation of an evaluation nomogram score. RESULT(S): The score of catalase in the glandular epithelium of controls group fluctuated during the menstrual cycle; it was lowest in the early proliferative phase and peaked in the late secretory phase. In patients with endometriosis, catalase scores did not fluctuate during the cycle, and scores were high compared with controls throughout the menstrual cycle. Catalase scores did not vary in patients with adenomyosis, and scores in this group were consistently higher than those in patients with endometriosis throughout the cycle. CONCLUSION(S): Abnormal expression of catalase in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium strongly suggests pathologic involvement of free radicals in endometriosis and adenomyosis.     

Differentiating Dementia with Lewy Bodies from Alzheimer's Disease Using the Fall Risk Evaluation Questionnaire

Objective Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is the second-most common form of neurodegenerative dementia after Alzheimer''s disease (AD). Falls are a vital prognostic factor in patients with dementia and are a characteristic feature of DLB. This study investigated the screening potential of the fall risk evaluation for DLB and compared it with that of AD to facilitate an accurate diagnosis. Methods We enrolled patients diagnosed with DLB (n=410) and AD (n=2,683) and categorized the participants into 3 groups depending on their physical ability, age, cognitive function, and fall events. Using the Fall Risk Index-21 (FRI-21) questionnaire, we evaluated and comparatively analyzed the fall risk between DLB and AD patients in three defined groups of participants. Results The FRI-21 score was significantly higher in DLB patients than in AD patients in every group. Using this score, we were able to distinguish between DLB and AD patients in each group. Among the three groups, the group with a young age, relatively mild cognitive dysfunction, and no fall events exhibited the best specificity for DLB (0.895). Conclusions The FRI-21 is a useful tool for screening for DLB and differentiating it from AD. This questionnaire can be used at a relatively early stage of the disease in young patients with mild cognitive dysfunction and no history of falling. These preliminary results need to be validated in an interventional study to evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitative measures and daily environmental changes carried out to prevent falls using this tool.     

Coupling of acceptor-substituted diazo compounds and tertiary thioamides: synthesis of enamino carbonyl compounds and their pharmacological evaluation

This paper describes the synthesis of enamino carbonyl compounds by the copper(i)-catalyzed coupling of acceptor-substituted diazo compounds and tertiary thioamides. We plan to use this method to synthesize indolizidine (−)-237D analogs to find α6-selective antismoking agents. Therefore, we also performed in silico α6-nAchRs binding studies of selected products. Compounds with low root-mean-square deviation values showed more favorable binding free energies. We also report preliminary pharmacokinetic data on indolizidine (−)-237D and found it to have weak activity at CYP3A4. In addition, as enamino carbonyl compounds are also known for antimicrobial properties, we screened previously reported and new enamino carbonyl compounds for antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. Eleven compounds showed significant antimicrobial activities.

This paper describes the synthesis of enamino carbonyl compounds by the copper(i)-catalyzed coupling of acceptor-substituted diazo compounds and tertiary thioamides.     

Successful bronchial artery embolization using hydrogel coils for hemoptysis during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

A 58-year-old woman with bronchiectasis presented with massive hemoptysis and severe respiratory failure, which required long-term extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with continuous heparin infusion. Bronchial artery embolization using hydrogel coils, which provide a greater volume occlusion than bare platinum coils, was performed; hemoptysis stopped and she fully recovered. No recanalization was observed on follow-up computed tomography angiography 2 months postbronchial artery embolization, and there had been no recurrence of bleeding at the time of this report (at least 6 months). Although continuous anticoagulation during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation might hinder complete vessel occlusion by metallic coils or induce early recanalization (because the homeostatic mechanism of coils depends on the patient''s coagulability), our experience showed that bronchial artery embolization using hydrogel coils was effective and safe. Additionally, this case presents a successful example of anticoagulation management for patients with hemoptysis on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation who undergo bronchial artery embolization using coils.     

IFN‐α/β‐mediated NK2R expression is related to the malignancy of colon cancer cells

Neurokinin 2 receptor (NK2R), a G protein‐coupled receptor for neurokinin A (NKA), a tachykinin family member, regulates various physiological functions including pain response, relaxation of smooth muscle, dilation of blood vessels, and vascular permeability. However, the precise role and regulation of NK2R expression in cancer cells have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we found that high NK2R gene expression was correlated with the poor survival of colorectal cancer patients, and Interferon (IFN‐α/β) stimulation significantly enhanced NK2R gene expression level of colon cancer cells in a Janus kinas 1/2 (JAK 1/2)‐dependent manner. NKA stimulation augmented viability/proliferation and phosphorylation of Extracellular‐signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) levels of IFN‐α/β‐treated colon cancer cells and NK2R blockade by using a selective antagonist reduced the proliferation in vitro. Administration of an NK2R antagonist alone or combined with polyinosinic‐polycytidylic acid, a synthetic analog of double‐stranded RNA, to CT26‐bearing mice significantly suppressed tumorigenesis. NK2R‐overexpressing CT26 cells showed enhanced tumorigenesis and metastatic colonization in both lung and liver after the inoculation into mice. These findings indicate that IFN‐α/β‐mediated NK2R expression is related to the malignancy of colon cancer cells, suggesting that NK2R blockade may be a promising strategy for colon cancers.     

The Simultaneous Onset of Pancreatitis and Colitis as Immune-related Adverse Events in a Patient Receiving Nivolumab Treatment for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which have anti-tumor effects, are currently approved for treatment of several kinds of advanced malignancies. However, with their increasing use, a variety of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in administered patients have been reported. We herein report a rare case of the simultaneous onset of acute pancreatitis and colitis as irAEs during nivolumab treatment given to a patient with renal cell carcinoma, who then shown marked improvement with corticosteroid therapy.