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Objectives: More than half of women do not achieve appropriate gestational weight gain. Maternal body image may be an important factor associated with gestational weight gain. However, this association has not been thoroughly evaluated. We aimed to elucidate whether body image parameters before and during pregnancy are associated with gestational weight gain in Japanese women. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at a hospital in Osaka, Japan from March 2020 to March 2021. We recruited women with singleton pregnancies in their second and third trimesters. Body image was assessed using the Pregnancy and Weight Gain Attitude Scale and additional questions. Gestational weight gain was classified as insufficient, appropriate, or excessive based on recommended ranges in Japan. One-way analysis of variance, chi-square tests, and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with insufficient or excessive weight gain. Results: Of 266 enrolled women, 47 had insufficient weight gain and 100 had excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Risk factors for excessive gestational weight gain included a history of dietary restriction before pregnancy, negative attitudes toward gestational weight gain, and perception of body shape as fat and body shape dissatisfaction during pregnancy. Perception of body shape as thin during pregnancy was identified as a risk factor for insufficient gestational weight gain. Conclusions: Body image before and during pregnancy may be an important factor in preventing insufficient or excessive gestational weight gain in Japanese women. Healthcare professionals should consider body image when providing health guidance on weight management to pregnant women. Significance: What is Already Known? Body image is a possible factor in gestational weight gain. Compared to women in other countries, Japanese women of reproductive age tend to have a negative body image. What this Study adds? A history of dietary restriction before pregnancy and negative body image during pregnancy were associated with excessive gestational weight gain among Japanese women. Perception of body shape during pregnancy as thin was associated with insufficient gestational weight gain. Thus, even in a Japanese population, characterized by a majority of women with pre-pregnancy underweight or normal body mass index status, associations between negative body image and gestational weight gain were similar to those in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Deep white matter lesions (DWMLs), T2 high-intensity areas in the subcortical white matter on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are a clinical phenotype of cerebral small vessel disease. Factors such as age and hypertension have been reported to significantly contribute to the presence and severity of DWMLs in cross-sectional studies. We herein report a 10-year longitudinal study on DWMLs in elderly Japanese subjects to reveal the clinical variables contributing to the progression of DWMLs. Methods: A total of 469 Japanese subjects were invited to participate in the study. Of the participants at baseline, 259 subjects completed the revisit MRI study 10 years later. In those 259 subjects, we evaluated the correlation between the progression of DWMLs and clinical variables, such as the gender, age, and overt vascular risk factors. To clarify the role of hypertension, 200 subjects with grade 1 DWMLs at baseline were categorized into three groups according to their status of hypertension and its treatment. Results: Of the 200 subjects with grade 1 DWMLs, 47 subjects (23.5%) showed progression of DWMLs (progression group). In the progression group, the percentage of subjects with hypertension and the systolic blood pressure values were higher than in the non-progression group. In addition, subjects ≥ 60 years old at baseline tended to show deterioration of DWMLs in the group with hypertension without antihypertensive treatment. Conclusion: The results of this 10-year longitudinal study imply a positive correlation between long-standing hypertension and the progression of DWMLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cystatin C (Cys-C) is a more sensitive marker of renal function than creatinine (Cre) in pediatric and adult populations. However, the reference values of serum Cys-C for estimating glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) in premature infants during the first year of life have not been sufficiently studied. Methods: In this prospective study, 481 blood samples were collected from 261 preterm infants with uncomplicated clinical courses during their first year of life. Infants were divided into three groups according to gestational age at birth: 27-30 weeks, 31-33 weeks, and 34-36 weeks. Serum Cys-C and Cre levels were measured at 6-30 days, 3-5 months, 7-9 months, and 12-14 months after birth and the eGFR was calculated using two previously published equations. Results: The median serum Cys-C levels were 1.776, 1.248, 1.037, and 0.960 mg/L at the first, second, third, and fourth measurement time-point, respectively, with the value significantly decreasing with age up to 12-14 months. Cys-C levels were independent of gestational age and gender. In contrast to Cys-C, serum Cre values declined rapidly up to 3-5 months, then remained constant up to 12-14 months. Using the Cys-C-based equation, the eGFR significantly increased with increasing age until approximately 1 year after birth; however, no such trend was noted using the equation based on Cys-C + Cre. Conclusions: Reference ranges for Cys-C in premature infants decline gradually over the first year after birth. Cys-C appears to be a more reliable marker than Cre for estimating GFR in preterm infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed greater response to 18-month administration of daily teriparatide especially in the increase of bone formation markers at 1 month and femoral neck bone mineral density at 18 months compared to postmenopausal osteoporosis patients. Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 18-month administration of daily teriparatide (TPTD) in osteoporosis patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by comparing that of postmenopausal osteoporosis patients (Porosis). Methods: The effects of TPTD were examined between RA ( n = 70; age 68.4 years; disease activity score assessing 28 joints with CRP [DAS28-CRP] 2.8; rheumatoid factor [RF] positivity 75.5 %) with 77.1 % of prior bisphosphonate (BP), 84.3 % of oral prednisolone (PSL) (4.4 mg/day at baseline), 25.7 % of biologics, and Porosis ( n = 62; age 71.3 years) with 77.4 % of prior BP. Results: Femoral neck (FN) bone mineral density (BMD) increase at 18 months was significantly greater in RA compared to Porosis (4.7 vs. 0.7 %, P = 0.038), whereas it was 9.7 versus 7.9 % ( P = 0.736) in the lumbar spine (LS). The increase of bone formation markers (bone alkaline phosphatase [bone ALP] and N-terminal type I procollagen propeptide [PINP]) at 1 month were all significantly greater in RA compared to Porosis. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the significant indicator of 18-month BMD increase in RA was a 3-month increase of under-carboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) for LS ( β = 0.446, P = 0.005) and baseline ucOC for FN ( β = 0.554, P = 0.001), in which both showed significant negative correlation with baseline PSL dose. Conclusions: RA showed greater response to daily TPTD administration, especially in the increase of bone formation markers at 1 month and FN BMD increase at 18 months compared to Porosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This multi-center, prospective, open-label, observational study evaluated the effects of once-monthly minodronate (50 mg) on treatment persistence, bone turnover markers, bone mineral density, low back pain, and upper gastrointestinal symptoms in outpatients with osteoporosis previously treated with daily or weekly bisphosphonate products. Introduction: The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of once-monthly oral minodronate (MIN 50 mg) on bone turnover markers and bone mineral density, low back pain, and upper gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as preference for and treatment persistence of MIN 50 mg among Japanese osteoporosis patients currently treated with daily or weekly bisphosphonates. Methods: Study patients were allocated based on their preference to either the Switch group (patients willing to switch over to MIN 50 mg) or the Continue group (patients wanting to continue their current therapies). Patients' treatment persistence and satisfaction levels with the therapies were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. The study endpoints were serum TRACP-5b, serum P1NP, bone mineral density, upper gastrointestinal symptoms, and low back pain. Results: In total, 264 and 133 patients were allocated into the Switch and Continue groups, respectively. Approximately, 65 % of patients were willing to switch to MIN 50 mg, with the predominant reason being 'less frequent dosing more convenient.' Treatment persistence was significantly higher in the Switch group (MIN 50 mg) than the Continue group. Almost all patients with abnormal bone metabolism markers demonstrated normalization after switchover. MIN 50 mg alleviated low back pain and upper gastrointestinal symptoms induced by prior bisphosphonate use. Conclusions: MIN 50 mg alleviates low back pain, reduces bone turnover markers and increases bone density, and induces fewer upper gastrointestinal symptoms after switchover from prior bisphosphonate products, and therefore, it may provide patients with a more convenient treatment option and enhance long-term treatment persistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the interactions of itraconazole (ITCZ) with orally administered calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) in Japanese allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. Methods: Sixteen HSCT patients (8 patients each receiving tacrolimus or cyclosporine) were enrolled. An ITCZ oral solution was administered from day 30 after the initiation of ITCZ administration as a loading dose. Before the co-administration of ITCZ and CNI and 1 week daily thereafter, whole blood ITCZ and CNI (tacrolimus or cyclosporine) concentrations were measured in samples taken just before (C) and 2 h (C) after CNI administration. Results: The median dose-adjusted C values of tacrolimus and cyclosporine on day 7 after the start of ITCZ co-administration were 5.6- and 2.7-fold higher, respectively, than the corresponding values obtained before the initiation of ITCZ treatment. On day 7 after ITCZ treatment, the mean single dosages of tacrolimus and cyclosporine were reduced to 33.7 and 66.5 % of the dosages before ITCZ co-administration, respectively, to adjust the CNI target concentration. Although ITCZ co-administration did not alter the dose-adjusted C values of tacrolimus in a patient with a CYP3A5*1/*1 allele, it did change this value of tacrolimus in patients with CYP3A5*3 alleles. However, in patients receiving cyclosporine, no such tendency was observed. Conclusion: The magnitude of the interaction between orally administered tacrolimus and ITCZ was significantly greater than that between cyclosporine and ITCZ. Prospective analysis of the CYP3A5 polymorphism may be important to ensure safe and reliable immunosuppressive therapy with tacrolimus in patients treated with ITCZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Congestive heart failure (CHF) alters the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, including cardiovascular agents, due to decreased cardiac output and decreased renal blood flow. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of CHF on the clearance of vancomycin, a glycopeptide antibacterial agent. Methods: After reviewing more than 1,500 clinical charts of patients who received vancomycin therapy and whose serum vancomycin level was monitored, we identified 101 patients who also had the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) assessed at that time. The fluorescence polarization immunoassay method was used to measure vancomycin serum concentrations in these patients 1 h after the end of vancomycin infusion and just before the next administration. Using these two measurements, we calculated the pharmacokinetic parameters using the Bayesian estimator. Results: Patients with an LVEF of <40 % (16 patients) or those with an LVEF of ≥ 40 % and <60 % (40 % ≤ LVEF < 60 % ; 32 patients) had a significantly lower vancomycin clearance than patients with LVEF of ≥60 % (53 patients) (2.29 ± 0.95 or 2.79 ± 0.99 vs. 3.50 ± 1.04 L/h; p < 0.001 or p < 0.01, respectively). Vancomycin clearance was strongly correlated not only with estimated creatinine clearance (CLcr) in patients with an LVEF of <40 % ( r = 0.828) and 40 % ≤ LVEF < 60 % ( r = 0.773), but also with an LVEF in patients with a CLcr of <60 mL/min ( r = 0.646). Consistent with these findings, multiple regression analysis revealed that CLcr, LVEF and body weight were important independent variables for vancomycin clearance ( r = 0.649). Conclusions: Vancomycin clearance decreased with decreasing cardiac function (LVEF) and decreasing CLcr. This finding suggests that vancomycin clearance is affected by cardiac function and would be predicted not only CLcr but also by LVEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It remains elusive what factors affect posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Eleven PRES children, all with acute glomerulonephritis, Alport syndrome, and lupus nephritis, 5 with nephrosis, and 3 renal transplant recipients, were studied. PRES recurred in 1 patient. Neurological symptoms were graded as 1: mild (headache, nausea/vomiting, or tremor), 2: moderate (vision change), and 3: severe (mental dysfunction, cerebellar symptoms, seizures, recurrence of seizures, and coma). Magnetic resonance imaging was graded as 1: subtle change, 2: abnormal large areas, and 3: complete involvement of the regions. The common symptoms were seizures (100%), headache (82%), nausea/vomiting (73%), coma (55%), and vision change (46%). Seizures recurred in 7 (64%). All but one (91%) developed hypertension and 7 (64%) received calcineurin inhibitors (CNI). Edema occurred in 7 (64%) and renal insufficiency/end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in 4 (36%). Seizures recurred frequently in younger patients. Symptoms were severe in girls. Duration or severity of the condition with predisposing factors (hypertension, CNI, nephrosis or renal insufficiency/ERSD) did not make a difference in the symptoms and neuroimaging. Two patients developed chronic epilepsy. Age and gender may affect PRES symptoms. Our results are limited by small sample size and should be determined using larger numbers of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:The aim of this study was to assess the genetic effects of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).Study Design:A prospective study from a tertiary center that enrolled 204 Japanese infants (<35 weeks of gestational age (GA)) having no anomalies. ROP developed in 127, but not in 77 infants. The relative severity was defined as non-severe, moderate and severe ROP for GA, based on the staging criteria. VEGF (g.−634G>C, g.+13553C>T) and VEGF-receptor (KDR g.+4422(AC)11 to 14, Flt-1 c.+6724(TG)13 to 23) gene polymorphisms and clinical variables were assessed by uni/multivariate analyses.Result:The frequency of polymorphisms did not differ between ROP and non-ROP patients. The TT genotype of g.+13553 showed a higher odds ratio for non-severe ROP than CC genotype (P=0.006). Multivariate analyses indicated that low birth weight, blood transfusion and respiratory distress syndrome, but not polymorphisms, were the risk factors of advanced ROP (stage 3).Conclusion:A genotype of the VEGF pathway weakly affects the severity of ROP compared with other clinical factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]