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Objective: An ethmoid-dominant shadow on computed tomography is an indicator of type 2 inflammation, and is one of the main items used to diagnose and classify the severity of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis in the Japanese diagnostic criteria. Ethmoid sinus dominance is examined using the Lund-Mackay scoring system and may be overestimated due to scoring characteristics. We aim to investigate the accuracy of evaluations of ethmoid dominance using the conventional scoring system and the possibility of conducting an objective evaluation using a more detailed other scoring system., Methods: Patients diagnosed with eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis and who underwent bilateral endoscopic sinus surgery were enrolled in the present study. Computed tomography was performed preoperatively on all subjects. The bilateral anterior and posterior ethmoid sinuses and bilateral maxillary sinus were scored, and the ethmoid-to-maxillary ratio was calculated using 3 different scoring systems: Lund-Mackay (each sinus score ranges between 0 and 2), simplified Zinreich (score ranging between 0 and 3), and Zinreich (score ranging between 0 and 5)., Results: A total of 149 patients were eligible for the present study. Significant differences were observed in ethmoid-to-maxillary ratio evaluated by the 3 different scoring systems (2.4 ± 0.7, 3.0 ± 1.1, and 3.7 ± 2.2). Only 2 patients were negative for ethmoid dominance by the Lund-Mackay scoring system, while 14 were negative by the simplified-Zinreich and Zinreich scoring systems. Severity changed from the initial grade in 12 patients., Conclusions: The present results confirmed a potential overestimation when only the Lund-Mackay scoring system was used to assess ethmoid dominance. Ethmoid dominance has been identified as one of the main predictive factors for the long-term postoperative outcomes of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis and is included in the Japanese diagnostic criteria. A detailed evaluation of ethmoid dominance is desirable for more accurate evaluations of the severity and prognosis of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis., (Copyright © 2024 Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Published by Elsevier España S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Sudachitin, a member of the flavonoid family, reportedly improves glucose metabolism after long-term administration, but details of the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We found that Sudachitin approximately doubles insulin secretion under high glucose concentrations in mouse pancreatic islets and MIN6 cells. When Sudachitin was orally administered to mice, early-phase insulin secretion was increased and a 30 % reduction in blood glucose levels was demonstrated 30 min after glucose loading. Insulin tolerance tests also showed Sudachitin to increase systemic insulin sensitivity. Additionally, we observed that Sudachitin raised intracellular cAMP levels in pancreatic islets. Phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity assays revealed Sudachitin to inhibit PDE activity and computer simulations predicted a high binding affinity between PDEs and Sudachitin. These findings suggest that Sudachitin enhances both insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity via an increase in intracellular cAMP resulting from PDE inhibition. These insights may facilitate understanding the mechanisms underlying the regulation of glucose metabolism by Sudachitin and other isoflavones., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Akihiko Taguchi reports financial support was provided by Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Akihiko Taguchi reports financial support was provided by the 10.13039/501100001691Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Akihiko Taguchi reports financial support was provided by 10.13039/501100011907Mishima Kaiun Memorial Foundation. Yasuharu Ohta reports financial support was provided by the 10.13039/501100001691Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Yukio Tanizawa reports financial support was provided by the 10.13039/501100001691Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Background/aim: The present study investigated the anticancer effects of intraperitoneally administered D-allose in in vivo models of head and neck cancer cell lines., Materials and Methods: To assess the direct effects of D-allose, its dynamics in blood and tumor tissues were examined., Results: D-allose was detected in blood and tumor tissues 10 min after its intraperitoneal administration and then gradually decreased. In vivo experiments revealed that radiation plus D-allose was more effective than either treatment alone. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) mRNA over-expression was detected after the addition of D-allose in in vitro and in vivo experiments. D-allose inhibited cell growth, which was associated with decreases in glycolysis and intracellular ATP levels and the prolonged activation of AMPK. The phosphorylation of p38-MAPK was also observed early after the administration of D-allose and was followed by the activation of AMPK and up-regulated expression of TXNIP in both in vitro and in vivo experiments., Conclusion: Systemically administered D-allose appears to exert antitumor effects. Further studies are needed to clarify the appropriate dosage and timing of the administration of D-allose and its combination with other metabolic agents., (Copyright © 2024 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Objective: Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is selected as the primary treatment for eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS). Biologics or reoperation are sometimes required as secondary treatment after ESS. The present study examined the long-term postoperative courses of ECRS cases treated according to the current treatment concept, the frequency of secondary treatment, and its predictive factors., Methods: Ninety-four patients with ECRS who underwent ESS and received continuous management for 1-5 years were retrospectively investigated. Patient characteristics, long-term changes in endoscopic scores and the results of olfactory function tests, and secondary treatment were evaluated., Results: Five patients underwent reoperation and 11 received dupilumab during the follow-up period (35.9±19.2 months). Sixteen patients (17%) required secondary treatment due to the deterioration of sinus conditions. These patients were significantly younger, had higher comorbidity rates of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma, and a higher preoperative CT score than those who did not require secondary treatment. Three months after surgery, CT scores, endoscopic scores (E-scores), and the self-administered odor questionnaire (SAOQ) were significantly worse in patients who required secondary treatment. A multivariate regression analysis identified age, preoperative CT scores, and 3-month E-scores as predictive factors for secondary treatment. Three-month E-scores showed higher sensitivity and specificity, and the odds ratio was 11.3 when the cut-off value was set at 10., Conclusion: The early identification of patients for whom ESS may fail is important and additional treatments need to be provided at the appropriate timing where needed. Patients with the following factors need to be carefully followed up: a young age, high preoperative CT score, and high early postoperative E-score., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Orlistat, an anti-obesity agent, inhibits the metabolism and absorption of dietary fat by inactivating pancreatic lipase in the gut. The effect of orlistat on the gut microbiota of Japanese individuals with obesity is unknown. This study aimed to explore the effects of orlistat on the gut microbiota and fatty acid metabolism of Japanese individuals with obesity. Fourteen subjects with visceral fat obesity (waist circumference ≥85 cm) took orlistat orally at a dose of 60 mg, 3 times a day for 8 weeks. Body weight; waist circumference; visceral fat area; levels of short-chain fatty acids, gut microbiota, fatty acid metabolites in the feces, and gastrointestinal hormones; and adverse events were evaluated. Body weight, waist circumference, and blood leptin concentrations were significantly lower after orlistat treatment (mean ± standard deviation, 77.8 ± 9.1 kg; 91.9 ± 8.7 cm; and 4546 ± 3211 pg/mL, respectively) compared with before treatment (79.4 ± 9.0 kg; 94.4 ± 8.0 cm; and 5881 ± 3526 pg/mL, respectively). Significant increases in fecal levels of fatty acid metabolites (10-hydroxy-cis-12-octadecenoic acid, 10-oxo-cis-12-octadecenoic acid, and 10-oxo-trans-11-octadecenoic acid) were detected. Meanwhile, no significant changes were found in abdominal computed tomography parameters, blood marker levels, or short-chain fatty acid levels in the feces. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that some study subjects had decreased abundance of Firmicutes, increased abundance of Bacteroidetes, and increased α-diversity indices (Chao1 and ACE) after 8 weeks of treatment. The levels of Lactobacillus genus and Lactobacillus gasseri were significantly higher after 8 weeks of treatment. None of the subjects discontinued treatment or experienced severe adverse events. This study suggested that orlistat might alter gut microbiota composition and affect the body through fatty acid metabolites produced by the modified gut bacteria., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All investigators in this study declared Conflict of No Interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Palliative care patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) often experience dysphagia and airway trouble; thus, each patient requires a specific palliative care plan based on their prognostication. However, no established specific prognostic tool performed on the day of starting end-of-life care is available for such patients. We assessed the accuracy of Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) and palliative prognostic index (PPI) and their combination to establish a specified prognostic tool for patients with HNSCC in end-of-life setting., Methods: A retrospective clinical chart review was undertaken on patients with HNSCC in end-of life setting who were decided in Kagawa University Hospital and National Hospital Organization Shikoku Cancer Center between April 2011 and March 2019. The patients were divided into 2 categories according to GPS (0-1 and 2) and PPI (groups A-B and C). These were combined into 4 categories (PPI group A-B and GPS score 0-1: good; PPI group A-B and GPS score 2: intermediate; PPI group C and GPS score 2: poor; and PPI group C and GPS score 0-1: others). The survival curves were compared for the former 3 categories., Results: The median survival of the scores 0-1 and 2 on GPS were 114 (72-148) and 39 (25-52) days, respectively ( P < .01). These of groups A-B and C on PPI were 79 (64-99) and 16 (9-29) days, respectively ( P < .01). The median survival of the good, intermediate, and poor categories was 127 (73-149), 64 (44-80), and 15 (9-27) days, respectively ( P < .01 among all categories)., Conclusions: In this study, the survival of terminally ill patients with HNSCC can be predicted by the GPS, PPI, and their combination with sufficient probability.

Background: It is known that eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis is often associated with adult-onset bronchial asthma, and undiagnosed bronchial asthma is also known to be included. The purpose of this study is to screen patients with eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis using fractional exhaled nitric oxide, and to examine its usefulness in detecting undiagnosed bronchial asthma., Methods: We retrospectively examined the data of patients with eosinophilic chrnoic rhinosinusitis who underwent surgical treatment at Kagawa University from April 2015 to July 2022. Patients were included if they received examinations of fractional exhaled nitric oxide and spirometry before surgical treatment., Results: Of the 127 subjects, 52 had no history of treatment or diagnosis of bronchial asthma at the initial consultation. Among them, 15 patients who had high fractional exhaled nitric oxide value were diagnosed with bronchial asthma by the respiratory medicine department. Comorbid of bronchial asthma was eventually increased to 70.9% even though it was 59.1% at initial consultation., Conclusion: A certain number of patients with eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis have undiagnosed bronchial asthma, which can be difficult to detect with basic examination alone therefore fractional exhaled nitric oxide is useful as an additional screening examination.

Objective: Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis (ECRS) is refractory and recurrent, requiring long-term follow-up after Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS). Endoscopic evaluation is common during postoperative assessment, but how the findings vary over time in postoperative ECRS patients who were treated by the recent standardized management is unclear. We assessed the long-term change in postoperative endoscopic score in ECRS patients using a novel endoscopic scoring system (Escore)., Methods: This retrospective study included 80 ECRS patients who underwent full-house ESS and were followed for longer than 1-year. Endoscopic procedures were repeated at every follow-up visit and postoperative Escores were assessed from 3-months up to 5-years (median follow-up period was 3-years)., Results: The Escore did not significantly change from that at 3-months (3m-Escore). The Escore at the final observation point (f-Escore) among 80 patients was 9.2 ± 5.6 and there was no significant difference from the 3m-Escore (8.5 ± 4.1, p = 0.363). Twenty-one patients (21/80, 26.3%) were considered to have endoscopically uncontrolled ECRS at their final observation points and the 3m-Escore was identified as an independent predictive factor by multivariate logistic regression analysis. The 3m-Escore cut-off value that was able to predict endoscopically uncontrolled ECRS after long-term follow-up was ≥12., Conclusion: We demonstrated the long-term endoscopic outcomes after full-house ESS and continuous outpatient treatment. Early endoscopic findings (3m-Escore) were a potential predictive factor for the later endoscopic outcome, and a 3m-Escore of 12 or higher may be an indicator of the poor long-term prognosis of sinus mucosa., (Copyright © 2021 Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Since a decrease in muscle mass leads to an increased risk of mortality, the prevention of muscle wasting contributes to maintaining the quality of life. Recently, we reported that glabridin, a prenylated flavonoid in licorice, prevents dexamethasone-induced muscle loss. In this study, we focused on the other prenylated chalcones 4-hydroxyderricin and xanthoangelol in Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei) and investigated their prevention effect on dexamethasone-induced muscle loss. It was found that 4-hydroxyderricin and xanthoangelol significantly prevented dexamethasone-induced protein degradation in C2C12 myotubes by suppressing the expression of ubiquitin ligases, Cbl-b and MuRF-1. These prenylated chalcones acted as the antagonists of the glucocorticoid receptor and inhibited the binding of dexamethasone to this receptor and its subsequent nuclear translocation. In addition, the chalcones suppressed the phosphorylation of p38 and FoxO3a as the upstream factors for ubiquitin ligases. Dexamethasone-induced protein degradation and upregulation of Cbl-b were attenuated by the knockdown of the glucocorticoid receptor but not by the knockdown of p38. In male C57BL/6J mice, the Ashitaba extract, containing 4-hydroxyderricin and xanthoangelol, suppressed dexamethasone-induced muscle mass wasting accompanied by a decrease in the expression of ubiquitin ligases by inhibiting the nuclear translocation of the glucocorticoid receptor and phosphorylation of FoxO3a. In conclusion, 4-hydroxyderricin and xanthoangelol are effective compounds to inhibit steroid-induced muscle loss.

Background: Olfactory dysfunction is one of the common symptoms of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS), for which endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is the standard treatment. Although the success rates of ESS for restoring olfaction in CRS have been reported, those for ECRS, as defined by new Japanese diagnostic criteria, remain unclear and the parameters affecting improvement rates have not yet been identified., Methods: Eighty-four patients with ECRS who underwent full-house ESS were retrospectively investigated. Olfactory function was examined using T&T recognition thresholds before and 3 months after surgery., Results: The total positive improvement rate in olfaction was 76.2% (64 of 84) and the mean T&T recognition threshold decreased significantly from 5.2 ± 1.1 to 3.0 ± 1.8 after surgery (p < 0.001). Some factors, including negative intravenous olfaction test, presence of olfactory cleft (OC) lesions, a history of sinus surgery, age ≥ 45 years, and being male, were more frequent in the olfaction refractory group. Furthermore, improvement of the T&T recognition threshold was significantly lower for factors of negative intravenous olfaction testing, the presence of OC lesions, and being male. Age and the proportion of blood eosinophils correlated with improvement., Conclusion: Herein we examined prognostic factors for olfactory outcomes in ECRS treated with ESS. The intravenous olfaction test, presence of OC lesions, sex differences, and age (the cut-off value was 45 years) were identified as independent prognostic factors for olfactory outcomes 3 months after surgery., (© 2019 ARS-AAOA, LLC.)

Prevention of muscle wasting is known to contribute to improving the quality of life and extending a healthy life. Recently, we have reported that licorice flavonoid oil containing glabridin, which is a prenylated isoflavone, enhances muscle mass in mice. In this study, we investigated the prevention effect of glabridin on dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy and clarified its mechanism in cultured myotubes and in muscle of mice. Treatment with glabridin to C2C12 myotubes inhibited dexamethasone-induced protein degradation through dexamethasone-induced expression of ubiquitin ligases, MuRF1 and Cbl-b, but not atrogin-1. Mechanistically, glabridin inhibited nuclear translocation of the glucocorticoid receptor. Glabridin directly bound to the glucocorticoid receptor, resulting in the inhibition of binding between dexamethasone and the receptor protein. Glabridin also inhibited dexamethasone-induced phosphorylation of p38 and FoxO3a, as the upstream for the induction of ubiquitin ligases in C2C12 myotubes. Moreover, the glabridin-induced inhibition of protein degradation was eliminated by knockdown of the glucocorticoid receptor, but not by p38 knockdown. These data indicated that the inhibitory mechanism of glabridin against dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy was mainly mediated by the inhibition of binding between dexamethasone and the glucocorticoid receptor in myotubes. Oral administration of glabridin prevented dexamethasone-induced protein degradation in the tibialis anterior muscle of mice. It was confirmed that glabridin inhibited dexamethasone-induced nuclear translocation of the glucocorticoid receptor and phosphorylation of FoxO3a in the muscle of mice. These findings suggest that glabridin is an effective food ingredient for the prevention of glucocorticoid-induced skeletal muscle atrophy., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The flavon luteolin has various health-promoting activities including cardiovascular protection, anti-inflammatory activity and anticancer activity. A serum concentration of about 100 nM luteolin is reached by dietary habit. However, little is known about the function of luteolin over its physiological concentration range. In this study, we investigated whether a physiological concentration of luteolin could activate nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated expression of phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Interestingly, less than 1 nM of luteolin could induce phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes, such as GSTs, HO-1, and NQO1. Both 1 and 100 nM luteolin increased expression and activity of ALDH2, which metabolized toxic acetaldehyde into nontoxic acetic acid. Luteolin increased nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and enhanced the ARE-binding complex through increasing the stability of the Nrf2 protein. Luteolin increased phosphorylation of Nrf2 at Ser40, and MEK inhibitors (U0126 and PD98059) canceled luteolin-induced phosphorylation of Nrf2. Furthermore, luteolin increased modified Keap1. In conclusion, a physiological concentration of luteolin induces the expression of phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes by enhancement of Nrf2 nuclear accumulation through MEK1/2-ERK1/2-mediated phosphorylation of Nrf2, increasing Nrf2 stability and inducing a conformational change of Keap1., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The histological changes corticosteroids induce in nasal polyps, and whether these changes have an impact on the diagnosis of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS), currently remain unclear., Objectives: A prospective controlled multicenter trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the low-dose and short-term oral prednisolone (oPSL) treatment for tissue eosinophil infiltrations in ECRS., Methods: Subjects with ECRS diagnosed by previous biopsies received a low dose of oPSL for 3 days (PSL 3) or 7 days (PSL 7) before surgery. Changes in the tissue eosinophil count after these treatments were evaluated. Furthermore, the percent change of tissue eosinophil count from baseline and its impact on the diagnosis defined by the JESREC study were examined., Results: There were 23 and 21 subjects in the PSL 3 and PSL 7 groups, respectively. Polyp scores, clinical symptom scores, and the proportion of blood eosinophils significantly decreased after the treatment, and no significant differences were observed between the groups. The entire tissue eosinophil count tended to be slightly decreased in both groups without reaching a statistically significant value. The median percent change of tissue eo-sinophil count from baseline was 83.6%, and only the posttreatment proportion of blood eosinophil showed a mild correlation with it. Seven out of 44 nasal polyp specimens collected from the superficial part of the middle meatus showed < 70 eosinophils/high-power field; therefore, the false negative rate was 15.9%, but decreased to 11.4% when other parts were included in the histological evaluation., Conclusions: Low-dose and short-term oPSL did not appear to markedly affect the tissue eosinophil count in ECRS patients; however, the potential for misdiagnoses due to the effects of oPSL cannot be rejected. The diagnosis of ECRS prior to the administration of corticosteroids or tissue evaluations using multiple tissue parts is desirable., (© 2019 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Introduction: Orlistat is an inhibitor of pancreatic lipase and is used as an anti-obesity drug in many countries. However, there are no data available regarding the effects of orlistat on visceral fat (VF) accumulation in Japanese individuals. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of 52 weeks of orlistat administration in Japanese individuals., Methods: Orlistat 60 mg was administered orally three times daily for 52 weeks to Japanese participants with excessive VF accumulation and without dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension (metabolic diseases). Participants were also counseled to improve their diet and to maintain exercise habits. We defined excessive VF accumulation as a waist circumference (WC) of ≥ 85 cm for males and ≥ 90 cm for females, which corresponds to a VF area of 100 cm 2 . Adverse reactions, clinical laboratory tests, VF, WC, body weight (BW), etc., were monitored throughout the study period., Results: VF, WC, and BW were significantly reduced at week 52 from baseline; the mean ± standard error rate of change was - 21.52% ± 1.89%, - 4.89% ± 0.45%, and - 5.36% ± 0.56%, respectively, and continued to reduce throughout the 52 weeks; these significantly reduced at whole term compared with baseline. Most adverse reactions were defecation-related symptoms such as oily spotting and flatus with discharge (flatus with small amounts of stool or oil) due to the pharmacologic effects of the lipase inhibitor. These symptoms were mostly mild, reversible, and recognizable by the participants; none were serious or severe. No participants discontinued by medical judgment about adverse reactions, and the drug could be administered continuously., Conclusion: VF, WC, and BW were reduced from week 4 to week 52, indicating the effect of long-term orlistat administration. Moreover, it was well tolerated with an acceptable safety profile. Long-term administration of orlistat may be efficacious in reducing VF accumulation with safety when used in combination with diet and exercise., Trial Registration: This study is registered with the Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center (identifier: JapicCTI-184004)., Funding: Funding for this study was provided by Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Odontogenic sinusitis (OS) is a disease commonly encountered by otolaryngologists and oral surgeons. There is currently no standard consensus for the management of the causative teeth of OS, and the therapeutic outcomes of endodontic surgery remain unclear. The authors herein report the outcomes of simultaneous surgery for OS, endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) with endoscopic apicoectomy. Twenty-one OS patients who underwent ESS were included in the intent-to-treat population. Eleven patients who simultaneously underwent endoscopic apicoectomy were included as the study group, and another 10 patients who were subjected to the extraction of the causative teeth preceding or during surgery were included as the control group. The postoperative tooth course after surgery in the study group was assessed as the primary outcome by periodic radiographs. The postoperative sinus course was compared between the 2 groups as the secondary outcome. Seventeen teeth were subjected to endoscopic apicoectomy concurrently with ESS, and the treatment success rate for periapical lesions was 94.1% (16 out of 17 teeth), which was consistent with previously reported outcomes for endodontic microsurgery. Ten of 11 patients (90.9%) had good postoperative sinus courses, and the mean wound-healing period of the sinus mucosa was 6.9 ± 3.5 weeks. These results were not significantly different from those obtained for the control group (90% and 6.1 ± 3.2 weeks). This surgical procedure may contribute to the preservation of causative teeth without having an impact on the successful treatment of sinusitis. A comprehensive surgical approach by otolaryngologists and oral surgeons is desirable for the treatment of OS.

Introduction: Orlistat is an inhibitor of pancreatic lipase and is used as an anti-obesity drug in many countries. However, there are no data available regarding the effects of orlistat on visceral fat accumulation in Japanese subjects. Therefore, this comparative, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of orlistat in Japanese participants with excessive visceral fat accumulation and without dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension ("metabolic diseases")., Methods: The study population included Japanese participants with excessive visceral fat accumulation (waist circumference ≥ 85 cm in males and ≥ 90 cm in females, which corresponds to a visceral fat area of 100 cm 2 ) and without metabolic diseases. Following a 12-week observation term, participants were randomized to the orlistat 60 mg group (n = 100) or placebo group (n = 100). Both drugs were administered orally three times daily for 24 weeks. Participants were also counseled to improve their diet and to maintain exercise throughout the study. Visceral fat area, subcutaneous fat area, waist circumference, body weight, body mass index, adverse reactions, laboratory tests, and blood pressure were regularly assessed., Results: Visceral fat area, waist circumference, and body weight were significantly reduced in the orlistat group (mean ± standard error, - 13.50 ± 1.52%, - 2.51 ± 0.25%, and - 2.79 ± 0.30%, respectively) compared to the placebo group (- 5.45 ± 1.50%, - 1.55 ± 0.26%, and - 1.22 ± 0.28%, respectively) at the last assessment. The main adverse reactions were defecation-related symptoms including oily spotting and flatus with discharge, resulting from the pharmacological effects of orlistat. Most adverse reactions were mild, and none were serious or severe., Conclusion: Orlistat administration reduced visceral fat area, waist circumference, and body weight in Japanese participants with excessive visceral fat and without metabolic diseases. In addition, safety was confirmed with a tolerable profile. Orlistat may be useful to reduce excessive visceral fat accumulation when used in combination with diet and exercise., Trial Registration: Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center identifier, JapicCTI-184005., Funding: Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

This open-label, parallel-group, multicenter study aimed to assess the effects of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of luseogliflozin. A single 5-mg dose of luseogliflozin was administered to Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the following groups: G1, normal renal function; G2, mild renal impairment; G3a, mild to moderate impairment; G3b, moderate to severe impairment; G4, severe impairment, based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; ≥90, 60-89, 45-59, 30-44, 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , respectively). While luseogliflozin pharmacokinetics were similar for patients across all renal function groups, the increase in plasma concentration was slightly slower and maximum concentration was slightly reduced in the lower eGFR groups compared with the other groups. However, luseogliflozin pharmacodynamics were affected by the severity of renal impairment. Urinary glucose excretion (UGE) increased in all groups relative to baseline levels, but the degree of UGE increase was smaller in the lower eGFR groups. Moreover, plasma glucose AUC changes from baseline tended to be smaller in the lower eGFR groups. No clear trends were observed between eGFR and incidence, type, or severity of adverse events. Thus, luseogliflozin administration should be carefully considered, as patients with renal impairment may show an insufficient response to treatment., (© 2018 The Authors. Clinical Pharmacology in Drug Development Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The American College of Clinical Pharmacology.)

Objective: The preservation or resection of the middle turbinate (MT) during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) currently remains a matter of debate. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of submucosal middle turbinectomy (SMT) in ESS for eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS)., Methods: The study included 38 ECRS patients (63 sides) who had undergone full-house ESS with SMT and 20 ECRS patients (40 sides) without SMT as a control group. Post-operative middle turbinate lateralization (MTL), synechia formation, and the patency grade of the olfactory cleft (OC) were assessed as the primary outcomes 3 months after surgery. CT scans and the T&T test were performed on the SMT group 3 months after surgery and assessed as secondary outcomes., Results: MTL and synechia formation rates were slightly higher in the control group than in the SMT group (20% vs. 7.9%, p=0.072, 17.5% vs. 9.5%, p=0.235), although neither reached statistically significance. The mean patency score of OC was significantly better in the SMT group than in the control group (0.5±0.6 vs. 1.3±0.7, <0.001). CT findings and T&T test scores showed good improvements after SMT combined with ESS. No major adverse events occurred due to SMT., Conclusion: We demonstrated the potential advantages of SMT for ECRS patients. This method may avoid physiological functional loss through its preservation of the mucosa and structure of the MT., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This open-label, parallel-group study evaluated the effect of mild and moderate hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of luseogliflozin in Japanese subjects. Thirteen subjects with hepatic impairment (mild, n = 8; moderate, n = 5) and 6 healthy subjects received a single 5-mg dose of luseogliflozin. Serial blood sampling over 72 hours and 24-hour urine collection were done for pharmacokinetic analysis of luseogliflozin and its metabolites and to measure pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters, respectively. Demographic characteristics were similar at baseline for both groups. Geometric mean ratios of maximum plasma concentration (C max ) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC inf [90%CI]) of unchanged luseogliflozin were 1.02 (0.790-1.32) and 0.774 (0.580-1.03), respectively, on comparing patients with hepatic impairment with healthy subjects, and 0.939 (0.752-1.17) and 1.00 (0.780-1.28), respectively, in subjects with mild and moderate hepatic impairment. Although mean plasma concentrations of metabolites were slightly higher in patients with hepatic impairment versus healthy subjects, their time-course plasma concentrations were very low compared with those of unchanged luseogliflozin. Single-dose luseogliflozin 5 mg was well tolerated by study participants, indicating luseogliflozin dose adjustment is not necessary in patients with mild and moderate hepatic impairment., (© 2017 The Authors. Clinical Pharmacology in Drug Development Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The American College of Clinical Pharmacology.)

1. To understand the clearance mechanism of luseogliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, we investigated its human metabolite profile and metabolic enzymes responsible for the primary metabolic pathways in human using reaction phenotyping. 2. Sixteen metabolites of luseogliflozin were found in human plasma and/or urine and their structural information indicated that the drug was metabolized via multiple metabolic pathways. The primary metabolic pathways involve (1) O-deethylation to form M2 and subsequent glucuronidation to form M12, (2) ω-hydroxylation at ethoxy group to form M3 followed by oxidation to form the corresponding carboxylic acid metabolite (M17) and (3) direct glucuronidation to form M8. 3. The reaction phenotyping studies indicated that the formation of M2 was mainly mediated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4/5, and subsequently M12 formation was catalyzed by UGT1A1, UGT1A8 and UGT1A9. The formation of M3 was mediated by CYP4A11, CYP4F2 and CYP4F3B, and the further oxidation of M3 to M17 was mediated by alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase. The formation of M8 was catalyzed by UGT1A1. 4. These results demonstrate that luseogliflozin is metabolized through multiple pathways, including CYP-mediated oxidation and glucuronidation, in human.

Luseogliflozin is a selective sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor that reduces hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by promoting urinary glucose excretion (UGE). A clinical pharmacology study conducted in Japanese patients with T2DM confirmed dose-dependency of UGE with once-daily administration of luseogliflozin; however, the reason for sustained UGE after plasma luseogliflozin decreased was unclear. To elucidate the effect of inhibition rate constants, K on and K off , and to explain the sustained UGE, a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) model was built based on the mechanisms of glucose filtration in the glomerulus and reabsorption in the renal proximal tubule of kidney as well as the kinetics of competitive inhibition of SGLT1/2 and inhibition rate constants of SGLT2, by using UGE and plasma glucose levels and luseogliflozin concentrations. This acquired population PK-PD model adequately described the sustained UGE and the estimated population means of the inhibition constant for SGLT2 (K i2 ) and inhibition-rate constants for SGLT2 (K on and K off ) were 0.31- and 3.6-fold lower or higher than the in vitro values. Because the dissociation half-time of luseogliflozin from SGLT2 calculated from K off , 6.81 h, was consistent with the value in vitro, we considered that the sustained UGE could be explained by the long dissociation half-time. Moreover, by calculating the SGLT2 inhibition ratio using the model, we discuss other properties of the UGE time course after luseogliflozin administration.

Introduction: In our previous study investigating effects of luseogliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, on 24-h glycemic variability by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), luseogliflozin elicited parallel downward shifts in fasting and postprandial glucose levels. However, further review of individual patients' data revealed that postprandial hyperglycemia was not reduced in some patients, while preprandial glucose was ameliorated in most patients. Therefore, we divided patients into two groups according to their postprandial glucose responses and conducted a post hoc subanalyses to elucidate which factors contributed to the differential effects of luseogliflozin., Methods: Thirty-four Japanese type 2 diabetic patients in our previous randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study with 7-day luseogliflozin administration were divided into postprandial glucose responders (PGR, n = 23, ameliorated peak glucose) and postprandial glucose non-responders (PGNR; n = 11, non-ameliorated peak glucose). Baseline characteristics, variations in CGM-measured 24-h glucose levels, and other pharmacodynamic variabilities were compared., Results: Baseline characteristics did not differ significantly between groups. Placebo-subtracted peak glucose was significantly lowered in PGR and significantly increased in PGNR (-43.8 and 17.9 mg/dL; both p < 0.05). Luseogliflozin significantly lowered "lowest glucose" (defined as the lowest level measured throughout a 24-h period) similarly in PGR and PGNR (-19.2 and -24.0 mg/dL; both p < 0.05), significantly reduced the mean amplitude of glucose excursions in PGR (-15.50 mg/dL; p < 0.05), and increased the area under the curve for plasma glucagon over 24 h in PGNR (median difference vs. placebo: 240 pg/mL h; p < 0.05). Luseogliflozin increased urinary glucose excretion (UGE) and decreased serum insulin by similar magnitudes in both groups., Conclusions: Luseogliflozin diminished glucose fluctuations in most patients by lowering peak glucose to a greater extent than lowest glucose. Luseogliflozin may also lower lowest glucose in patients whose peak glucose was not ameliorated despite increasing UGE. The glucagon increase in PGNR might explain its hypoglycemic effect on postprandial glucose., Funding: Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Tokyo, Japan., Trial Registration: JapicCTI-142548.

Objective: Intranasal corticosteroid sprays (INCSs) are commonly used for therapy of allergic rhinitis (AR). Adherence to regular use of INCSs is influenced by patient perception and preferences of products. The study objective was to compare perceived sensory attributes of fluticasone furoate nasal spray (FFNS) and mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS) in AR patients., Methods: In a multicenter, randomized, crossover, prospective study, 40 seasonal AR patients were administered both FFNS and MFNS for 2 weeks each in a crossover fashion, for a total of 4 weeks. Patients completed questionnaires for each product regarding perceived sensory attributes at the end of each two-week period of product administration., Results: FFNS was significantly preferred over MFNS. Significantly, fewer subjects perceived a bitter taste (p=0.01), medication running down their throat (p=0.033), and medication running out of their nose (p=0.002) with FFNS. MFNS was more frequently reported to induce nasal irritation (p=0.012), sneezing (p=0.017), and rhinorrhea (p=0.007) compared to FFNS. Interestingly, these findings were markedly observed in females. Medicine dripping out of the nose and nasal shooting were the most common problems reported for MFNS with a higher proportion of subjects who felt moderate-to-severe discomfort. Overall, 52.5% of patients expressed a preference for FFNS compared with 22.5% for MFNS., Conclusion: Several perceived sensory attributes of FFNS were rated significantly superior to MFNS. FFNS may contribute to enhanced treatment outcomes in AR patients due to improved treatment adherence., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Luseogliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, may be beneficial in obese diabetic patients based on its potential to decrease blood glucose and body weight, but there is limited proof. This analysis aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of luseogliflozin in patients with varying levels of obesity., Methods: A pooled analysis of four 52-week Phase III trials of luseogliflozin 2.5 mg daily (or up to 5 mg daily) in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus stratified according to baseline body mass index (BMI) was conducted. Efficacy end points included changes in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and body weight., Findings: In total, 1031 patients were included and stratified into 5 BMI (kg/m(2)) groups: low-to-medium (<22.5, n = 222); medium (≥22.5 to <25, n = 270); high-level 1 (≥25 to <27.5, n = 262); high-level 2 (≥27.5 to <30, n = 142); and very-high (≥30, n = 135). HbA1c decreased significantly compared with baseline until week 52 in all groups, and a similar trend was observed with FPG and body weight. The reduction in glycemic parameters tended to be slightly smaller in patients with BMI <22.5 kg/m(2), and the reduction in body weight tended to be greater in patients with higher BMI, especially those with BMI ≥30 kg/m(2). Levels of fasting insulin, C-peptide immunoreactivity, triglyceride, blood pressure, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and uric acid decreased significantly at week 52 in all groups (except for aspartate aminotransferase in patients with BMI <22.5 kg/m(2)). Levels of these parameters tended to be higher at baseline and these enhanced levels resulted in a greater decrease in patients with higher BMI. In safety, the incidence of adverse events was similar between groups, and most of them were mild in severity., Implications: HbA1c and body weight decreased significantly in all groups. Decrease in glycemic parameters tended to be smaller in patients with BMI <22.5 kg/m(2), while that of body weight was larger in patients with higher BMI. Furthermore, luseogliflozin was especially beneficial in patients with higher BMI in terms of metabolic abnormalities, including insulin secretion and hypertension. Luseogliflozin exhibited a favorable and similar safety profile over 52 weeks in all groups. This agent can be an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option in patients with a wide range of BMI levels, and it may be more beneficial in patients with higher BMI., (Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: We investigated the impact of reduced renal function on 24-h glucose variability in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treated with luseogliflozin., Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, 37 Japanese patients with T2DM [glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) 7.0-10.0%] and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥45 mL/min/1.73 m(2) were randomized into two groups in which patients first received luseogliflozin then placebo, or vice versa, for 7 days each. Twenty-four-hour glucose variability was measured on day 7 in each period and was compared among patients divided into three groups according to their baseline eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m(2)): normal (≥90; n = 13; normal group), normal-to-mildly reduced renal function (≥75 to <90; n = 12; normal-mild group), and mild-to-moderately reduced renal function (<75; n = 9; mild-moderate group)., Results: The mean [95% confidence interval (CI)] placebo-subtracted 24-h cumulative urinary glucose excretion (g) was 82.1 (72.7, 91.5), 82.5 (73.4, 91.5), and 62.2 (51.2, 73.3); the placebo-subtracted 24-h mean glucose concentration (mg/dL) was -24.39 (-32.53, -16.26), -28.28 (-39.35, -17.22), and -11.53 (-23.93, 0.86); and the placebo-subtracted peak postprandial glucose (mg/dL) was -26.9 (-46.9, -6.9), -38.1 (-59.6, -16.6), and 1.5 (-25.5, 28.4) in the normal, normal-mild, and mild-moderate groups, respectively. The mean lowest glucose concentrations (placebo vs. luseogliflozin, mg/dL) decreased to similar levels in the normal (115.4 vs. 93.4), normal-mild (121.0 vs. 97.9), and mild-moderate (104.0 vs. 91.1) groups., Conclusion: This post hoc subanalysis revealed that although mild-to-moderately reduced renal function attenuated the glucose-lowering effects of luseogliflozin on peak postprandial glucose, it did not attenuate the effects of luseogliflozin on fasting glucose. These findings may explain the smaller increase in urinary glucose excretion in these patients relative to patients with normal renal function or normal-to-moderately reduced renal function. Further studies may be needed to examine these findings in large populations of patients with T2DM and reduced renal function., Trial Registration: JapicCTI-142548., Funding: Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of renal function on the efficacy and safety of the sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor luseogliflozin (TS-071) in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)., Methods: Study 1 was a 52-week, Phase III study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 2.5 mg/d luseogliflozin (or increased to 5 mg/d) in patients with T2DM with moderate renal impairment. During the initial 24 weeks, efficacy and safety of luseogliflozin were compared with placebo. Study 2 was a pooled analysis of four 52-week, Phase III studies of luseogliflozin, including Study 1, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of luseogliflozin in patients with various degrees of renal function. Patients were stratified into 3 groups by baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): normal renal function (≥90 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), mild impairment (≥60 to <90 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), and moderate impairment (≥30 to <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)). Patients with moderate impairment were further divided into those with mild-moderate (≥45 to <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) and moderate-severe (≥30 to <45 mL/min/1.73 m(2)). In both studies, efficacy end points included changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level, and body weight. The safety end points included adverse events (AEs) and laboratory parameters., Findings: In Study 1, HbA1c, FPG, and body weight significantly decreased at Week 24 in patients treated with luseogliflozin compared with patients treated with placebo, with the decrease in these parameters also observed with luseogliflozin at Week 52. The incidence of AEs was similar between groups. In Study 2, 1030 patients were included (normal, 275; mildly impaired, 598; and moderately impaired, 157). At Week 52, HbA1c, FPG, and body weight were significantly decreased from baseline in all groups. In between-group comparisons, the decreases in HbA1c and body weight were significantly smaller in patients with moderate impairment than in those with normal function; however, the HbA1c-lowering efficacy was reduced by nearly half, whereas the efficacy of body weight lowering was not so much diminished in the moderate impairment group. Furthermore, a scatter plot showed that changes in HbA1c were more influenced by baseline HbA1c than by baseline eGFR. The incidence of AEs during 52 weeks was similar among all groups, with the majority being mild., Implications: Luseogliflozin improved glycemic control and reduced body weight in all eGFR groups, and its efficacy on HbA1c lowering was reduced in those with moderate renal impairment. Luseogliflozin was well tolerated and safe, with no significant safety issues identified, regardless of baseline eGFR. The study is registered with Clinical Trials Information/JapicCTI of the Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center, and the study registry identification numbers are JapicCTI-111507, JapicCTI-111508, JapicCTI-111509, and JapicCTI-111543., (Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Luseogliflozin is a selective sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. To evaluate the cardiac safety of luseogliflozin, a thorough QT/QTc study was conducted in healthy Japanese subjects. The effects of moxifloxacin on QT prolongation in Japanese subjects were also evaluated. In this double-blind, placebo- and open-label positive-controlled, 4-way crossover study, 28 male and 28 female subjects received a single dose of luseogliflozin 5 mg (therapeutic dose), luseogliflozin 20 mg (supratherapeutic dose), placebo, and moxifloxacin 400 mg. Serial triplicate digital 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded before and after dosing, and results were analyzed using the Fridericia correction (QTcF) method. Serial blood sampling was performed for pharmacokinetic analyses of luseogliflozin and moxifloxacin to analyze the relationship between QTcF interval and plasma concentration. The upper limits of the two-sided 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for baseline and placebo-adjusted QTcF intervals (ΔΔQTcF) in the 5 mg and 20 mg luseogliflozin groups were less than 10 ms at all time points. No correlation between plasma luseogliflozin concentrations and ΔΔQTcF was observed. In the moxifloxacin group, the lower limits of the two-sided 90% CIs for ΔΔQTcF were greater than 5 ms at all time points. A positive relationship was observed between plasma moxifloxacin concentration and change in ΔΔQTcF. Luseogliflozin was well tolerated at both dose levels. The majority of adverse events were mild in severity, and no serious or life-threatening adverse events occurred. Neither therapeutic (5 mg) nor supratherapeutic (20 mg) doses of luseogliflozin affected QT prolongation in healthy Japanese subjects.

Introduction: Two studies were carried out to investigate the efficacy and safety of luseogliflozin added to existing oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients inadequately controlled with OAD monotherapy., Materials and Methods: In the trial involving add-on to sulfonylureas (study 03-1), patients were randomly assigned to receive luseogliflozin 2.5 mg or a placebo for a 24-week double-blind period, followed by a 28-week open-label period. In the open-label trial involving add-on to other OADs; that is, biguanides, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, glinides and α-glucosidase inhibitors (study 03-2), patients received luseogliflozin for 52 weeks., Results: In study 03-1, luseogliflozin significantly decreased glycated hemoglobin at the end of the 24-week double-blind period compared with the placebo (-0.88%, P < 0.001), and glycated hemoglobin reduction from baseline at week 52 was -0.63%. In study 03-2, luseogliflozin added to other OADs significantly decreased glycated hemoglobin from baseline at week 52 (-0.52 to -0.68%, P < 0.001 for all OADs). Bodyweight reduction was observed in all add-on therapies, even with agents associated with weight gain, such as sulfonylureas and thiazolidinediones. Most adverse events were mild in severity. When added to a sulfonylurea, incidences of hypoglycemia during the double-blind period were 8.7% and 4.2% for luseogliflozin and placebo, respectively, but no major hypoglycemic episodes occurred. The frequency and incidences of adverse events of special interest for sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and adverse events associated with combined OADs were acceptable., Conclusions: Add-on therapies of luseogliflozin to existing OADs improved glycemic control, reduced bodyweight and were well tolerated in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients. These trials were registered with the Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center (add on to sulfonylurea: JapicCTI-111507; add on to other OADs: JapicCTI-111508).

Purpose: The present study compared the potential of pretreatment 3'-deoxy-3'-[F]-fluorothymidine (F-FLT) uptake parameters and those of F-FDG to predict the clinical outcome of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy., Methods: A total 53 patients undergoing pretreatment F-FLT PET/CT and F-FDG PET/CT from May 2006 to April 2013 were evaluated. The SUVmax, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis, and total lesion proliferation (TLP) were determined semiquantitatively. Associations between clinical factors and PET/CT parameters and prognostic value were analyzed., Results: In univariate analyses, F-FLT SUVmax, MTV, TLP, F-FDG MTV, and total lesion glycolysis correlated with locoregional control (P = 0.02, P = 0.0007, P = 0.0001, P = 0.007, and P = 0.013, respectively). Clinical T stage, F-FLT SUVmax, MTV, TLP, and F-FDG SUVmax correlated with overall survival (P = 0.012, P = 0.0057, P = 0.0018, P = 0.0012, and P = 0.047, respectively). On multivariate analyses, F-FLT TLP was an independent factor for locoregional control (P = 0.002; hazards ratio [HR], 5.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.81-14.54), as were F-FLT SUVmax and MTV for overall survival (P = 0.021; HR, 3.47; 95% CI, 1.2-10.01 and P = 0.029; HR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.12-8.95)., Conclusions: Pretreatment F-FLT PET/CT volume-based metabolic parameters are superior prognostic predictors to those of F-FDG PET/CT. F-FLT SUVmax and MTV can provide important prognostic information for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas administered with chemoradiotherapy.

Introduction: We investigated the possibilities of drug-drug interactions between luseogliflozin, a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor, and oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs) in healthy Japanese males., Methods: We conducted six independent studies to investigate potential drug-drug interactions between 5 mg luseogliflozin and the following OADs usually used in Japan: 1 mg glimepiride, 250 mg metformin, 30 mg pioglitazone, 50 mg sitagliptin, 50 mg miglitol, or 0.6 mg voglibose (0.2 mg before each meal). Twelve subjects were enrolled in each study. The glimepiride, metformin, sitagliptin, and miglitol studies were randomized, open-label, single-dose, three-way crossover studies. The pioglitazone and voglibose studies were open-label studies, where a single dose of luseogliflozin was added to multiple doses of pioglitazone or voglibose. The endpoints were the area under the curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC0-24 h) or to infinity (AUCinf) and the maximum concentration (Cmax) of each drug administered alone or in combination., Results: The 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the geometric mean ratio (GMR) for Cmax of luseogliflozin in the pioglitazone and miglitol studies were beyond the reference range for bioequivalence (0.80-1.25) (miglitol: 0.851 [0.761, 0.952]; pioglitazone: 1.16 [1.04, 1.30]). However, the 90% CIs for AUC0-24 h were within the reference range. The 90% CIs of the GMRs for Cmax and AUC0-24 h of pioglitazone were beyond the reference range (Cmax 0.884 [0.746, 1.05]; AUC0-24 h 0.896 [0.774, 1.04]), but the 90% CIs for the active metabolites of pioglitazone were within the reference range. For the other combinations tested, the 90% CIs and GMRs for luseogliflozin and the individual OADs were within the reference range., Conclusion: No clinically meaningful interactions were observed between luseogliflozin and six commonly used OADs in Japan, although there were some changes in the pharmacokinetics of pioglitazone co-administered with luseogliflozin and for luseogliflozin co-administered with miglitol or pioglitazone., Funding: Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Introduction: Luseogliflozin, a potent, selective sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, promotes urinary glucose excretion (UGE) and reduces plasma glucose concentrations. Luseogliflozin was approved for use in Japan after favorable pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and safety profiles were reported in healthy Japanese subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in clinical development studies. We aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of multiple doses of luseogliflozin administered once daily for 7 days in Japanese patients with T2DM., Methods: We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind, parallel-group, clinical pharmacology study at the P-One Clinic, Keikokai Medical Corporation (Tokyo, Japan) between August 2009 and November 2009. Forty Japanese patients with T2DM were randomly assigned to receive once-daily 0.5, 1, 2.5 or 5 mg luseogliflozin or placebo for 7 days. We assessed the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics (including changes in UGE and plasma glucose concentrations), and safety of luseogliflozin., Results: The plasma concentrations of luseogliflozin and its active metabolite, M2, were dose proportional, without accumulation. 24-h UGE was greater in all luseogliflozin groups versus placebo. Least-squares mean differences in 24-h UGE on Day 7 increased dose dependently in the luseogliflozin groups, with values of 49.2, 66.5, 89.4, and 101 g/day at 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 mg, respectively. On Day 7, the areas under the concentration-time curves for post-meal plasma glucose and the mean plasma glucose for 0-16 h were significantly lower in all luseogliflozin groups versus placebo. Seven patients had mild adverse events (AEs); all were resolved. No AEs led to study discontinuation., Conclusion: Once-daily administration of luseogliflozin for 7 days increased 24-h UGE in a dose-dependent manner, reduced plasma glucose concentrations, and was well tolerated in Japanese patients with T2DM. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of luseogliflozin observed in this study supports its once-daily dosing regimen., Funding: Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Luseogliflozin, a selective sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, was demonstrated in a previous 24-week study of type 2 diabetic patients to be efficacious and well tolerated. This study mainly aimed to evaluate the long-term safety of luseogliflozin monotherapy in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients based on the Japanese guidelines. Additionally, long-term efficacy was also evaluated. Patients on diet and exercise therapy alone with an HbA1c of 6.9-10.5% received luseogliflozin 2.5 mg once daily for 52 weeks. For patients with insufficient glycemic control, this dose was able to be increased to 5 mg at Week 24. Adverse events (AEs), clinical laboratory tests, vital signs and 12-lead electrocardiograms were used to assess safety. Efficacy endpoints consisted of changes in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and body weight from baseline. Of 299 patients who received luseogliflozin, 279 completed the study. Most AEs were mild in severity with incidences of AEs and adverse drug reactions at 75.3% and 16.7%, respectively. Although hypoglycemia was observed in 7 patients (2.3%), no major hypoglycemic episodes occurred. The incidences of AEs of special interest, including pollakiuria, volume depletion and urinary tract/genital infections, were at acceptable levels. Luseogliflozin significantly lowered HbA1c (-0.50%, P< 0.001), FPG (-16.3 mg/dL, P< 0.001) and body weight (-2.68 kg, P< 0.001) at Week 52 compared to baseline. Up-titration to 5 mg further improved glycemic control. In this long-term study of Japanese type 2 diabetic patients, luseogliflozin monotherapy was well tolerated for 52 weeks and provided a sustained glycemic lowering effect and reduced body weight.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive potential of pre-treatment 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]-fluorothymidine (FLT) uptake parameters for short-term outcome of primary head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) patients., Patients and Methods: A total of 32 patients undergoing pre-treatment FLT positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) from May 2010 to May 2013 were evaluated. Semi-quantitative assessment was used to determine mean, peak and maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmean, SUVpeak and SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion proliferation (TLP). Clinicopathologic factors and PET/CT parameters were analyzed for their association with 2-year loco-regional control (LRC) and overall survival (OS)., Results: The mean (± SD) SUVmean, SUVpeak, SUVmax, MTV and TLP were 5.97 ± 3.16, 6.71 ± 3.75, 10.05 ± 5.37, 7.31 ± 8.05 and 44.95 ± 52.82, respectively. In univariate analyses, N category was associated with OS (P = 0.037). Increased MTV ≥13 ml was associated with decreased LRC and OS (P < 0.0001). TLP ≥69.3 g was also linked with both LRC and OS (P = 0.009 and 0.015, respectively). Regarding SUVs, only the SUVpeak was associated with LRC and OS (P = 0.035 and 0.049, respectively)., Conclusions: Pre-treatment MTV is the most useful parameter with FLT PET/CT. TLP and SUVpeak may also provide important prognostic information for patients with HNSCCs.