Background: Constipation causes substantial morbidity worldwide. Methods: This survey assessed constipation-related factors in Japan using the Japanese version of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality ...of Life (IBS-QOL-J) instrument. We also examined the relationship among laxative type, Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) scores, and treatment cost. Finally, we examined differences in satisfaction scores according to laxative type, treatment type, treatment cost, and BSFS score. Results: IBS-QOL-J was higher among those taking salt and/or irritation laxatives. Those paying >JPY 5000 (USD 50.00) had the lowest IBS-QOL-J. IBS-QOL-J was significantly lower among those with a BSFS score of 1 or 2 (severe constipation). Conclusions: This study’s findings suggest that a variety of factors, including treatment type and cost, are associated with defecation satisfaction. Those who had hard stools, used multiple laxatives, or spent more on treatment were less satisfied. Future strategies should target therapies that do not require multiple laxatives with lower treatment costs. Adequate defecation with a small number of appropriate laxatives at minimal cost appears to improve defecation satisfaction. It is desirable to identify appropriate laxatives and improve dietary habits and exercise routines. It is also necessary to stop blindly increasing laxative usage and properly diagnose constipation disorders such as anatomical abnormalities other than functional constipation.
To elucidate the effects of brine fulvic acid on hydroponically grown leaf lettuce, the endogenous plant hormones indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), trans-zeatin (tZ), isopentenyl adenine (iP), gibberellin1 ...(GA1), gibberellin4 (GA4), and abscisic acid (ABA) were quantified. After 39 days of hydroponic cultivation, the above-ground weight of the plants was significantly increased in the brine fulvic acid treatment. The concentration of IAA was 7.3 times higher in the largest leaf in the brine fulvic acid treatment than in the control treatment. tZ concentration in the root zone tended to be higher in the base zone in the control treatment, whereas in the brine fulvic acid treatment, it tended to be higher at the apical zone. The iP concentration was higher in roots in the brine fulvic acid treatment. The GA1 concentration was lower in leaves than in roots, but was higher in roots in the brine fulvic acid treatment. The GA4 concentration was lower in both leaves and roots in the brine fulvic acid treatment. Overall, the GA1 concentrations were higher than GA4 concentrations in roots, with the C-13 hydroxylation pathway being dominant. The GA1 concentration was higher in the new leaves than in the largest and outer leaves in both the control and brine fulvic acid treatment, and it was about twice as high in the control treatment and about seven times as high in the fulvic acidic treatment. ABA concentrations were generally higher in leaves in the brine fulvic acid treatment. The highest value of 209 pmol・g–1 FW was noted in the outer leaves.
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors target TNF-α to effectively treat autoimmune inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. However, many cases of cutaneous and systemic vasculitis ...related to TNF-α inhibitors have been reported in the literature. Here, the authors report the first case of a 61-year-old Japanese woman who developed leukocytoclastic vasculitis with cutaneous perivascular hemophagocytosis, which was related to elevated cytokines and immune complexes after initiating adalimumab for rheumatoid arthritis without evidence of hemophagocytic syndrome and rarely encountered in the skin. The patient was successfully treated by discontinuing adalimumab and initiating corticosteroid therapy, which should be considered as the treatment of choice. We believe that our case confirms and adds to the evidence pertaining to the involvement of TNF-α in dermal perivascular hemophagocytosis, a histologic finding rarely observed in the skin.
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