Long-term voriconazole use may increase the risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), especially in immunocompromised patients. However, relatively little is known regarding ...voriconazole-induced cSCC in Japan. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between voriconazole use and cSCC in Japan using different national pharmacovigilance databases. First, using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database, we evaluated the association between voriconazole use and cSCC in Japan. Second, using the U. S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database, we examined regional differences in the occurrence of voriconazole-induced cSCC between Japan and other countries. We calculated reporting odds ratios (RORs) as disproportionality analysis to evaluate voriconazole-induced cSCC. In this study, cases in which one or more of "Bowen's disease", "Carcinoma in situ of skin", "Keratoacanthoma", "Squamous cell carcinoma in skin", or "Squamous cell carcinoma" were reported as adverse events were considered to be cSCC cases. The analysis based on the JADER database showed an association between voriconazole use and cSCC in Japan, with a ROR (95% confidence interval) of 35.37 (25.60-48.87). Further, the analysis based on the FAERS database revealed that signals were detected in Japan as well as in Western countries and Australia. This study is the first in which the association between voriconazole use and cSCC in Japan is assessed using national pharmacovigilance databases. Healthcare providers need to be fully aware of the potential for cSCC development owing to voriconazole use and in all countries, including Japan, ensure careful follow-up of patients' skin.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a fraction of plasma that contains high levels of multiple growth factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of PRP on cell proliferation and matrix ...synthesis by porcine chondrocytes cultured in alginate beads, conditions that promote the retention of the chondrocytic phenotype, in order to determine the plausibility of using this plasma-derived material for engineering cartilage.
PRP and platelet-poor plasma (PPP) were prepared from adult porcine blood. Adult porcine chondrocytes were cultured in the presence of 10% PRP, 10% PPP or 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) for 3 days. Cell proliferation, proteoglycan (PG) and collagen synthesis were quantified, and the structure of newly synthesized PG and collagen was characterized.
Treatment with 10% PRP resulted in a small but significant increase in DNA content (+11%, vs FBS;
P
<
0.01; vs PPP;
P
<
0.001). PG and collagen syntheses by the PRP-treated chondrocytes were markedly higher than those by chondrocytes treated by FBS or PPP (PG; PRP: +115% vs FBS; +151% vs PPP, both
P
<
0.0001, collagen; PRP: +163% vs FBS; +163% vs PPP, both
P
<
0.0001). Biochemical analyses revealed that treatment with PRP growth factors did not markedly affect the types of PGs and collagens produced by porcine chondrocytes, suggesting that the cells remained phenotypically stable in the presence of PRP.
PRP isolated from autologous blood may be useful as a source of anabolic growth factors for stimulating chondrocytes to engineer cartilage tissue.
Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is an important lepidopteran pest in the Americas, and recently invaded the Eastern Hemisphere. In Brazil, FAW is considered the most destructive pest of ...corn and cotton. FAW has evolved resistance to many insecticides and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins. Here, a large-scale monitoring was performed between 2019 and 2021 to assess diamide insecticide susceptibility in more than 65 FAW populations sampled in corn and cotton. We did not detect a significant shift in FAW susceptibility to flubendiamide, but a few populations were less affected by a discriminating rate. F2 screen results of 31 selected FAW populations across regions confirmed that the frequency of diamide resistance alleles remained rather stable. Two laboratory-selected strains exhibited high resistance ratios against flubendiamide, and cross-resistance to anthranilic diamides. Reciprocal crosses indicated that resistance is autosomal and (incompletely) recessive in both strains. F1 backcrosses suggested monogenic resistance, supported by the identification of an I4734M/K target-site mutation in the ryanodine receptor (RyR). Subsequent genotyping of field-collected samples employing a TaqMan-based allelic discrimination assay, revealed a low frequency of RyR I4790M/K mutations significantly correlated with phenotypic diamide resistance. Our findings will help to sustainably employ diamides in FAW resistance management strategies across crops.
Summary
Fractures are common in individuals with COPD and occur at higher bone mass values than expected. COPD appears to be an important risk factor for bone fragility.
Introduction
Patients with ...chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have an increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures, but screening and prophylactic measures to prevent both disorders are often neglected in this population. This case-control study assessed the prevalence of osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fractures in patients with COPD, and identified potential risk factors for fractures in this population.
Methods
Overall, 91 patients with COPD (COPD group; COPDG) and 81 age- and sex-matched controls (control group; CG) were assessed with bone mineral density (BMD), thoracic/lumbar spine radiographs, and serum PTH and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels. The occurrence of prior fractures was retrieved from clinical history.
Results
The prevalence of total fractures in the COPDG was 57.1% (odds of fracture 4.7 times greater compared with the CG), and the femoral neck T-score emerged as the best predictor of fractures. Compared with the CG, the COPDG had lower spine and femoral BMD (
p
≤ 0.01) and 25(OH)D levels (
p
= 0.01) and 2.6 times greater odds of osteoporosis. Among men, vertebral fractures were more prevalent in the COPDG versus CG (25.9% vs. 6.5%, respectively,
p
= 0.01). The odds of fracture increased with femoral neck T-scores ≤ − 2.7 in the CG and ≤ − 0.6 in the COPDG.
Conclusion
These results add robust evidence to an increased odds of osteoporosis and fractures in COPD. Fractures in the COPDG occurred at higher BMD values than expected, suggesting that COPD may be an independent marker of fracture risk, reinforcing a need for regular osteoporosis screening with BMD measurement and prophylaxis of fractures in patients with this disorder.
Sitagliptin has been suggested as a treatment option for older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, no randomized controlled trial has been performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ...sitagliptin treatment in older Japanese patients with T2D. The STREAM study was a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial. T2D outpatients aged 65-80 years with moderately controlled glycemic levels (HbA1c 7.4-10.4%) under lifestyle interventions without or with oral anti-diabetic drugs excluding DPP4 inhibitors or GLP-1 receptor agonists were recruited (n = 176). The participants were randomized into sitagliptin group (n = 88) who received sitagliptin as an initial or an additive anti-diabetic drug and control group (n = 88) who did not. The treatment goal was HbA1c level < 7.4%. Efficacy and safety during 12-month treatment period were investigated. The mean (± SD) ages were 70.6 ± 3.9 and 71.9 ± 4.4 years old in sitagliptin and control groups, respectively. According to a mixed-effects model analysis, average changes from baseline over the treatment period in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, and glycated albumin (GA) were - 27.2 mg/dL, - 0.61%, and - 2.39%, respectively, in sitagliptin group, and 0.50 mg/dL, - 0.29%, and - 0.93%, respectively, in control group. The reductions in FPG, HbA1c, and GA were significantly greater in sitagliptin group (P < 0.0001, P < 0.01, and P < 0.0001, respectively). There were no differences in the incidence of adverse effects, except for cystatin C elevation and platelet count reduction in sitagliptin group. Sitagliptin treatment effectively improved the glycemic profile without any serious adverse effects in older T2D patients.Trial registration number: UMIN000010376.
Abstract
BACKGROUND
In Japan in which life expectancy exceeds 85 years old, there are many elderly people who have sufficient healthy life even over 75 years of age and maintain social activities. ...With the increase in life expectancy and widespread use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it is estimated that the number of asymptomatic meningioma diagnosed in elderly patients will increase. They are often followed up for the elderly, but they often become symptomatic as the tumor grows. Considering the inherent complications of the elderly and the patient’s life expectancy, it is often difficult to decide whether to operate. Here, we report the results of surgical treatment for intracranial meningiomas in elderly patients growing during follow-up study.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Between January 2010 and December 2018, we treated 322 meningioma patients, including 18 patients older than 75 years old who had grown during follow-up. We performed a retrospective analysis of the 18 patients and measured Tumor doubling time (TDT) using CT scan or MRI image. We mainly examined the relationship between TDT and WHO classification, MIB-1 index, edema and calcification, intensity on MRI T2 weighted-imaging.
RESULTS
5 were male and 13 were female. There were 6 cases of skull base meningioma and 13 cases in which the tumor showed high intensity on the MRI T2 weighted-imaging. 4 cases showed intratumoral hemorrhage. 8 cases had edema. 11 cases were symptomatic meningiomas and 7 cases were asymptomatic meningiomas. There were 7 cases of WHO grade I meningioma and 11 cases of WHO grade II or III meningiomas. TDT was an average of 1.82 year (0.37–3.74). 9 patients have taken anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication.
CONCLUSION
In following up elderly meningioma patients, MRI should be performed at periodic intervals if the tumor showed high intensity on the MRI T2 weighted-imaging or had edema. In case of surgical treatment, we should pay attention to taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, and treatment strategy is needed to avoid complications with sufficiently preoperative examination.
The development of pure natural fibres as sound absorptive material remains overlooked due to their lack of mechanical and moist properties, low durability, and vulnerability to be damaged by the ...environment. Certain fibre treatments are needed to improve such disadvantages. This paper investigates sound absorption characteristics of coconut fibre (coir) and oil palm fibre made from empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) fibre bonded by polyester that can protect them from the ambient environment in order to increase their durability. Two types of fibre-polyester composites have been tested. The first is the fibre-polyester composite (FPC) type, which is totally coated with polyester as the composite matrix. Another type is the fibre-polyester bonded composite (FPBC), in which the polyester is brushed into slice by a slice of the fibre layer in order to coat and bond the fibre, although porous among the fibre remains possible. A two-channel impedance tube is used in the measurement within 200 Hz to 3000 Hz of the frequency range. It is found that FPBC type panel has almost similar sound absorption characteristics to its purely natural fibre as it is able to maintain the panel porosity. The coconut coir fibre panel and its composite have a maximum absorption coefficient of almost 100% within the frequency range 1500-2000 Hz, considerably better than the OPEFB fibre, with only about 80% of the absorption coefficient. If the FPC layer exists, the sound absorption is reduced, and the frequency peaks are also shifted. Additions of the FPC panel layer thickness produced lower sound absorptions and shifted the peaks to the lower frequency range. The FPBC panel type is viable to protect the fibre from the environment without changing its sound absorption characteristics.
This paper reports the development of a vibration monitoring system for wind turbine blades. This system is used to estimate the deflection at the tip blade on a wind turbine tower. Technical ...accidents of wind turbine blades have become increasingly common. Thus, regular monitoring of the blades is very important to prevent breakdowns, especially in cases when the blades begin to vibrate excessively. The monitoring system developed in this study satisfies two main objectives for practicality. First, our system is easy to install on existing wind turbines. Second, blade deflection is measured in real time. Our system can be operated using a few strain gages attached at the blade root, and the deflection is calculated based on the monitored stress. Thus, direct measurement of deflection at the blade tip is unnecessary. An estimation algorithm for this purpose is adopted based on the experimental modal analysis. This paper focuses on the evaluation of the estimation algorithm to investigate the feasibility of our system. Basic experiments were conducted using a simple blade model of a 300 W scaled wind turbine under rotation. Signals from the strain gages were acquired by a sensor network and sent to a computer through a wireless connection. The results show that the estimation accuracy is acceptably high. Therefore, we conclude that our proposed system is practical.
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