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Paediatric high-risk neuroblastoma has poor prognosis despite modern multimodality therapy. This phase I/II study aimed to determine the safety, dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), and efficacy of high-dose 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (131I-mIBG) therapy combined with single high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in high-risk neuroblastoma in Japan. Patients received 666 MBq/kg of 131I-mIBG and single HDC and HSCT from autologous or allogeneic stem cell sources. The primary endpoint was DLT defined as adverse events associated with 131I-mIBG treatment posing a significant obstacle to subsequent HDC. The secondary endpoints were adverse events/reactions, haematopoietic stem cell engraftment and responses according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) and 123I-mIBG scintigraphy. Response was evaluated after engraftment. We enrolled eight patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (six females; six newly diagnosed and two relapsed high-risk neuroblastoma; median age, 4 years; range, 1–10 years). Although all patients had adverse events/reactions after high-dose 131I-mIBG therapy, we found no DLT. Adverse events and reactions were observed in 100% and 25% patients during single HDC and 100% and 12.5% patients during HSCT, respectively. No Grade 4 complications except myelosuppression occurred during single HDC and HSCT. The response rate according to RECIST 1.1 was observed in 87.5% (7/8) in stable disease and 12.5% (1/8) were not evaluated. Scintigraphic response occurred in 62.5% (5/8) and 37.5% (3/8) patients in complete response and stable disease, respectively. 131I-mIBG therapy with 666 MBq/kg followed by single HDC and autologous or allogeneic SCT is safe and efficacious in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma and has no DLT. jRCTs041180030. Feasibility of high-dose iodine-131-meta-iodobenzylguanidine therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma preceding myeloablative chemotherapy and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (High-dose iodine-131-meta-iodobenzylguanidine therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma). https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs041180030 . 12/01/2018.

Background Rearranged during transfection (RET) rearrangements occur in 1-2% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Alectinib administered at doses of 300 mg and 600 mg twice daily (BID) is approved for. Alk rearranged NSCLC in Japan and other countries, respectively. Since alectinib has activity against RET, we conducted a phase (P) 1/2 study of alectinib to determine its activity in Japanese patients with. Ret rearranged NSCLC. Methods This study was a single-arm, open-label, multi-institutional P1/2 trial. Previously treated patients with RET-rearranged NSCLC, screened by nation-wide network (LC-SCRUM-Japan), were recruited. In P1, alectinib (600 or 450 mg BID) was administered following a 3+3 design and its safety was assessed. During P2, alectinib was administered at the recommended dose (RD) determined in P1. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR) in RET inhibitor-naive patients treated with the RD of alectinib. Results Thirty-four patients were administered alectinib. In cohort 1 (600 mg BID) of P1, we observed 5 dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), including grade 3 rash and thromboembolic event, in 3 of 6 patients. In cohort 2 (450 mg BID), we observed no DLTs in 3 patients. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that AUC0-10 to 600 mg BID was higher than that previously reported in global trials. We determined 450 mg BID as the RD for P2. In 25 RET inhibitor-naive patients, one achieved an objective response (4%) and 13 achieved disease control at 8 weeks (52%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.4 months (95% CI, 2.0-5.4), while the median overall survival was 19.0 months (5.4-NE). We observed grade 3 adverse events (AEs) (4%) including pneumonitis in P2. Conclusions Alectinib exerts limited activity against RET-rearranged NSCLC. Further investigation to elucidate the mechanisms underlying sensitivity and resistance of RET inhibitors is required to improve outcomes for these patients.

Background Colonic diverticular disease has been increasing in prevalence due to the rapidly aging global population, but standard treatment has not changed dramatically in recent years. Daiobotanpito (DBT; Da Huang Mu Dan Tang in Chinese) has been used in medical treatment of acute abdominal abscesses, such as appendicitis or diverticulitis in traditional Japanese (Kampo) medicine for many years, based on more than 3000 years of experience. Prior to this study, a retrospective open-label trial was conducted to compare patients with acute diverticulitis who received oral DBT combined with intravenous antibiotics with those who received intravenous antibiotic alone; it showed a positive effect of DBT on acute diverticulitis. We aim to investigate whether moderate to severe acute diverticulitis shows greater improvement with intravenous antibiotics plus orally administered DBT compared with intravenous antibiotics plus placebo. Methods This is a two-group, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial, which is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DBT in patients with moderate to severe diverticulitis treated with intravenous antibiotics. Eligible participants will be randomized to either a treatment group receiving a 10-day oral DBT regimen plus conventional therapy or a control group receiving a 10-day placebo regimen plus conventional therapy. The primary outcome will be success in treating diverticulitis: the success rate will be defined as elimination of abdominal pain within 4 days in all patients, and in patients with fever (body temperature ≧ 37.5 °C) on inclusion into this study, fever relief with reduction in body temperature to Discussion This study is expected to provide evidence to support the clinical benefits of DBT in the treatment of acute diverticulitis. It may also provide evidence on the efficacy and safety of DBT in the recurrence of acute diverticulitis. Trial registration UMIN-CTR: UMIN000027381. Registered on 27 April 2017. https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-bin/ctr/ctr_view_reg.cgi?recptno=R000031377, and changed to jRCTs041180063, registered on 30 July 2019; as a result of the revision of the domestic law in 2018 in Japan.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated marked efficacy in some cancer patients, but they may cause various severe immune-related adverse events. Alectinib is a second-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) approved for ALK-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Alectinib is said to be safer than other TKIs. We conducted an investigator-initiated trial of alectinib, which also has RET kinase-inhibitory activity, against RET-rearranged NSCLC. Two RET-rearranged NSCLC patients experienced severe skin toxicity with alectinib after first undergoing anti-PD-1 antibody treatment with an ICI. These findings suggest that we should carefully follow patients for adverse effects of targeted drugs following ICI treatment.

Paediatric high-risk neuroblastoma has poor prognosis despite modern multimodality therapy. This phase I/II study aimed to determine the safety, dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), and efficacy of high-dosePatients received 666 MBq/kg ofWe enrolled eight patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (six females; six newly diagnosed and two relapsed high-risk neuroblastoma; median age, 4 years; range, 1-10 years). Although all patients had adverse events/reactions after high-dosejRCTs041180030.Feasibility of high-dose iodine-131-meta-iodobenzylguanidine therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma preceding myeloablative chemotherapy and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (High-dose iodine-131-meta-iodobenzylguanidine therapy for high-risk neuroblastoma). URL OF REGISTRY: https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs041180030 .12/01/2018.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most life-threating disease among all digestive system malignancies. We developed a blood mRNA PDAC screening system using real-time detection PCR to detect the expression of 56 genes, to discriminate PDAC from noncancer subjects. We undertook a clinical study to assess the performance of the developed system. We collected whole blood RNA from 53 PDAC patients, 102 noncancer subjects, 22 patients with chronic pancreatitis, and 23 patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms in a per protocol analysis. The sensitivity of the system for PDAC diagnosis was 73.6% (95% confidence interval, 59.7%-84.7%). The specificity for noncancer volunteers, chronic pancreatitis, and patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms was 64.7% (54.6%-73.9%), 63.6% (40.7%-82.8%), and 47.8% (26.8%-69.4%), respectively. Importantly, the sensitivity of this system for both stage I and stage II PDAC was 78.6% (57.1%-100%), suggesting that detection of PDAC by the system is not dependent on the stage of PDAC. These results indicated that the screening system, relying on assessment of changes in mRNA expression in blood cells, is a viable alternative screening strategy for PDAC.

11568 Background:A tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) is a locally aggressive benign neoplasm arising from intra- or extra-articular tissue, and categorized localized (L-TGCT) or diffuse-type (D-TGCT). D-TGCT most commonly develops in the knee or ankle. We revealed that zaltoprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug possessing the ability to activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), can inhibit the proliferation of TGCT stromal cells via PPARγ. PPARγ is a ligand-activated transcription factor that belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. Therefore, we conducted a randomized trial to evaluate whether zaltoprofen was effective for patients with TGCT. Methods:This study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of zaltoprofen for patients with L-TGCT or D-TGCT. For the treatment group, zaltoprofen 480 mg/day was administered for 48 weeks. The primary outcome was the progression-free rate (PFR) at week 48 after treatment administration. Disease progression was defined as follows requiring surgical interventions: 1) repetitive joint swelling due to hemorrhage; 2) limited range of joint motion; 3) invasion of adjacent cartilage or bone; 4) severe joint space narrowing; or 5) increase in tumor size (target lesion). This study was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000025901). Results:We allocated forty-one patients to zaltoprofen (n = 21; Z) or placebo (n = 20; P) groups. The mean age was 44 years (range, 26 to 66) in the group Z and 47 years (range, 24 to 69) in the group P. TGCTs located at a knee in 26 patients and at an ankle in 15 patients. The primary outcome of PFR for the group Z was not higher than that for the group P at week 48 (84.0% vs. 90.0%; p = 0.619). The objective tumor response was graded as partial response (PR) in 1 patient, stable disease (SD) in 19, and progressive disease (PD) in 1 for the group Z, and SD in 17 and PD in 3 for the group P. The mean musculoskeletal tumor society scoring system for group Z was significantly improved from baseline to week 48 (83.8% vs. 93.0%, p = 0.02), whereas that for the group P was not significantly improved (82.2% vs. 86.8%; p = 0.167). During the study period, one severe adverse event was observed (grade 3 hypertension) in the group Z. Conclusions:To our knowledge, this was the first study to evaluate the efficacy of zaltoprofen in patients with TGCT. The TGCT patients in zaltoprofen group did not have higher PER compared with those in the placebo group at week 48. Zaltoprofen appeared to improve the limb-function. Both groups presented with a stable disease course for 48 weeks, therefore, the long-term clinical course of TGCT should be clarified. Further analysis with long-term administration of zaltoprofen is considered for the future study. Clinical trial information: UMIN000025901.

Backgrounds and aims Structural dynamics of basement membrane components remained to be elucidated in the process of hepatocarcinogenesis. We evaluated the characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) expressing laminin γ2 monomer (LG2m), a previously unrecognized basement membrane component not detected in normal tissues, for HCC diagnosis. We further determined if elevated serum LG2m is a risk factor for HCC development in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Approach and results In HCC cell lines, LG2m was expressed in alpha-fetoprotein-negative cluster of differentiation 90-positive cells characterized by highly metastatic natures. Using 14 cell lines and 258 HCC microarray data, we identified that LG2m gene signature was associated with Hoshida's S1/Boyault's G3 molecular subclasses with poor prognosis, which could not be recognized by alpha-fetoprotein. Serum LG2m was assessed in 24 healthy donors, 133 chronic liver disease and 142 HCC patients, and sensitivity and specificity of LG2m testing for HCC diagnosis were 62.9% and 70.5%, respectively (cutoff: 30pg/ml). We evaluated the consequence of LG2m elevation in two independent HCC cohorts (n = 47 and n = 81), and LG2m-high HCC showed poor prognosis with later development of distant organ metastasis (cutoff: 60pg/ml). LG2m was slightly elevated in a subset of CHC patients, and Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated a high incidence of HCC (n = 70). For validation, we enrolled 399 CHC patients with sustained virological response (SVR) as a multicenter prospective study, and serum LG2m elevation correlated with a high incidence of HCC in the CHC patients with SVR (P Conclusions LG2m is a novel predictive biomarker for the development of metastatic HCC. Elevated serum LG2m is a HCC risk in CHC patients who have achieved SVR.

Background Home-based care is one of the most promising solutions to provide sufficient medical care for several older patients in Japan. However, because of insufficient diagnostic devices, it is sometimes difficult to detect early signs of the occurrence or worsening of diseases, such as infections under home-based care settings. C-reactive protein (CRP) is highly sensitive to diagnosing infections, and its elevation can help diagnose acute infection in older patients. Therefore, a CRP-measuring device that can be used in such a specific occasion is needed for home-based care. However, aspects such as its size, weight, and procedure are still challenging with respect to the practical use of mobile devices that quantitatively measure CRP levels easily and quickly under home-based care settings. Objective We developed a new mobile, rapid CRP measurement device using a gold-linked electrochemical immunoassay (GLEIA) system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of this mobile CRP-testing device. Methods First, we assessed the performance of bare GLEIA-based electrode chips as the foundation of the device. After embedding the bare GLEIA-based electrode chips in a special plastic case and developing the mobile CRP-testing device, we further tested the device prototype using clinical blood samples. Finally, we evaluated the intra-assay variability for precision in the same condition and inter-assay variability for reproducibility in different conditions. Results Blood samples for analysis were obtained by direct vein puncture from outpatients (N=85; females: 57/85; males: 28/85; age: 19-88 years) at Kanazawa University Hospital in Japan. For performance evaluation of bare GLEIA-based electrode chips, we used 85 clinical blood samples. There was a significant positive correlation between the electrode-predicted CRP levels and the reference CRP concentrations (R2=0.947; P Conclusions Our findings suggest that this new mobile CRP-testing device might be suitable for use in home-based care settings.

BACKGROUND Home-based care is one of the most promising solutions to provide sufficient medical care for several older patients in Japan. However, because of insufficient diagnostic devices, it is sometimes difficult to detect early signs of the occurrence or worsening of diseases, such as infections under home-based care settings. C-reactive protein (CRP) is highly sensitive to diagnosing infections, and its elevation can help diagnose acute infection in older patients. Therefore, a CRP-measuring device that can be used in such a specific occasion is needed for home-based care. However, aspects such as its size, weight, and procedure are still challenging with respect to the practical use of mobile devices that quantitatively measure CRP levels easily and quickly under home-based care settings. OBJECTIVE We developed a new mobile, rapid CRP measurement device using a gold-linked electrochemical immunoassay (GLEIA) system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of this mobile CRP-testing device. METHODS First, we assessed the performance of bare GLEIA-based electrode chips as the foundation of the device. After embedding the bare GLEIA-based electrode chips in a special plastic case and developing the mobile CRP-testing device, we further tested the device prototype using clinical blood samples. Finally, we evaluated the intra-assay variability for precision in the same condition and inter-assay variability for reproducibility in different conditions. RESULTS Blood samples for analysis were obtained by direct vein puncture from outpatients (N=85; females: 57/85; males: 28/85; age: 19-88 years) at Kanazawa University Hospital in Japan. For performance evaluation of bare GLEIA-based electrode chips, we used 85 clinical blood samples. There was a significant positive correlation between the electrode-predicted CRP levels and the reference CRP concentrations (R2=0.947; P2=0.866, P CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that this new mobile CRP-testing device might be suitable for use in home-based care settings.

Background Liver cirrhosis results from chronic hepatitis, and is characterized by advanced fibrosis due to long-term hepatic inflammation. Cirrhosis ultimately leads to manifestations of jaundice, ascites, and encephalopathy, and increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Once cirrhosis is established, resulting in hepatic failure, no effective treatment is available. Therefore, novel therapies to inhibit disease progression of cirrhosis are needed. Objective The objective of this investigator-initiated clinical trial is to assess the safety and efficacy of autologous adipose tissue-derived regenerative (stem) cell therapy delivered to the liver via the hepatic artery in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods Through consultation with the Japan Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, we designed a clinical trial to assess a therapy for liver cirrhosis based on autologous adipose tissue-derived regenerative (stem) cells, which are extracted using an adipose tissue dissociation device. The primary endpoints of the trial are the serum albumin concentration, prothrombin activity, harmful events, and device malfunction. Results Enrollment and registration were initiated in November 2017, and the follow-up period ended in November 2019. Data analysis and the clinical study report will be completed by the end of March 2020. Conclusions Completion of this clinical trial, including data analysis, will provide data on the safety and efficacy of this novel liver repair therapy based on autologous adipose tissue-derived regenerative (stem) cells using an adipose tissue dissociation device. Trial Registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000022601; https://tinyurl.com/w9uqw3q International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/17904

Submitting data compliant with the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) standards is mandatory for new drug applications (NDAs). The standards set by CDISC are widely adopted in the pharmaceutical business world. Introduction of CDISC standards in academia can be necessary to reduce labor, resolve the shortage of data managers in academia, and gain new knowledge through standardized data accumulation. However, the introduction of CDISC standards has not progressed in communities within the academia that do not apply for NDAs. Therefore, herein, we created study data tabulation model (SDTM)-compliant datasets within the academia, without outsourcing, to reduce costs associated with investigator-initiated clinical trials. First, we input data from paper case report forms (CRFs) into an electronic data capture system with minimal function for paper CRFs, "Ptosh," which is compatible with SDTM. Then, we developed a generic program to convert data exported from Ptosh into fully SDTM-compliant datasets. The consistency was then verified with an SDTM validator, Pinnacle21 Community V3.0.1 (P21C). This resulted in generation of SDTM datasets, resolving all "Rejects" in P21C, thereby achieving the required quality level. Although Ptosh directly exports data in SDTM format, manual mapping of items on CRFs to SDTM variables prepared in Ptosh is necessary. SDTM mapping requires extensive knowledge and skills, and it was assumed that mapping is challenging for the staff without in-depth knowledge of CDISC standards and datasets. Therefore, for CDISC dissemination in academia, it is crucial to secure the staff, time, and funding to acquire the knowledge.

BACKGROUND Liver cirrhosis results from chronic hepatitis, and is characterized by advanced fibrosis due to long-term hepatic inflammation. Cirrhosis ultimately leads to manifestations of jaundice, ascites, and encephalopathy, and increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Once cirrhosis is established, resulting in hepatic failure, no effective treatment is available. Therefore, novel therapies to inhibit disease progression of cirrhosis are needed. OBJECTIVE The objective of this investigator-initiated clinical trial is to assess the safety and efficacy of autologous adipose tissue-derived regenerative (stem) cell therapy delivered to the liver via the hepatic artery in patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS Through consultation with the Japan Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, we designed a clinical trial to assess a therapy for liver cirrhosis based on autologous adipose tissue-derived regenerative (stem) cells, which are extracted using an adipose tissue dissociation device. The primary endpoints of the trial are the serum albumin concentration, prothrombin activity, harmful events, and device malfunction. RESULTS Enrollment and registration were initiated in November 2017, and the follow-up period ended in November 2019. Data analysis and the clinical study report will be completed by the end of March 2020. CONCLUSIONS Completion of this clinical trial, including data analysis, will provide data on the safety and efficacy of this novel liver repair therapy based on autologous adipose tissue-derived regenerative (stem) cells using an adipose tissue dissociation device. CLINICALTRIAL UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000022601; https://tinyurl.com/w9uqw3q INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/17904

The convergent mixed methods design is a common mixed methods research strategy; however, a challenge arises when data are collected concurrently but not analyzed completely independently due to overlapping research aims or certain styles of reasoning. The aims of this study were to (1) implement a crossover-tracks analysis in a convergent design wherein qualitative and quantitative strands were intertwined and informed each other and (2) examine a working hypothesis about the relationship between temporal change in clinical dialogues to examine the strength of patients’ motivation to participate in a clinical consultation. Using hypothetico-deductive method, the dynamic analytical approach shifted between inductive and deductive approaches. The qualitative and quantitative results were merged, and a joint-display depicted the relation for the final interpretation.

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a worldwide health concern because of a continued increase in cases globally; furthermore, the prognosis for patients with HCC remains poor. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been established as the standard of care for the intermediate stage of HCC; however, no therapeutic agents are available to reduce the high rate of recurrence. OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate the safety of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-derived peptides for patients with HCC post-TACE. METHODS This will be an open-label, single-arm, multicenter study to evaluate the safety of AFP-derived peptides (AFP 357 and AFP 403), which contain histocompatibility antigen-A24-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes from tumor antigens expressed in HCC and is recognized at a high rate by lymphocytes in patients with HCC. Protocol treatment will consist of six courses of the subcutaneous administration of 3 mg each of AFP 357 and AFP 403. A total of 14 patients will be included in this study, the first 6 as a main analysis target group and an additional 8 as an extended cohort from three institutions in Japan. The primary endpoint will be the occurrence of serious adverse events (safety profile). The secondary endpoints will include time to progression, overall survival, completion rate, and adverse events (efficacy profile). RESULTS We have recruited 14 patients with HCC as of December 2019. The final follow-up will be completed by March 2020. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we will evaluate the safety profile of AFP-derived peptides for patients with HCC post-TACE. We believe that this study will provide useful information and will help to design a subsequent phase II trial based on the results. CLINICALTRIAL Japan Registry of Clinical Trials jRCTs041180155; https://jrct.niph.go.jp/latest-detail/jRCTs041180155 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/17082

Objective Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors derived from the adrenal medulla or extra-adrenal paraganglioma from extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue. Although malignant PPGLs has miserable prognosis, the treatment strategy remains to be established. An internal radiation therapy using [131I]meta-iodobenzylguanidine (131I-mIBG) called MIBG therapy has been attempted as one of the systemic treatment of malignant PPGLs. The aim of this study is therefore to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of MIBG therapy for refractory PPGLs. Methods Patients with refractory PPGLs will be enrolled in this study. The total number of patients for registration is 20. The patients receive a fixed dose of 7,400 MBq of 131I-mIBG. Adverse events are surveyed during 20 weeks after 131I-mIBG injection and all severe adverse events will be documented and reported in detail in accordance with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). Examination and imaging diagnosis are performed in 12 weeks after 131I-mIBG injection for the evaluation of therapeutic effect in accordance with the Response Evaluation in Solid Tumours (RECIST). Conclusion The current study is the first multi-institutional prospective study of MIBG therapy and thereby will play a significant role in improving the patients' prognosis of refractory PPGLs. J. Med. Invest. 64: 205-209, August, 2017.

Background The rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion gene was discovered as a driver oncogene in 1-2% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Alectinib is an approved anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor that may also be effective for RET fusion-positive NSCLC. Methods/design RET fusion-positive NSCLC patients treated with at least one regimen of chemotherapy are being recruited. In step 1, alectinib (600 or 450 mg, twice daily) will be administered following a 3+3 design. The primary endpoint is safety. In step 2, alectinib will be administered at the recommended dose (RD) defined by step 1. The primary endpoint is the response rate of RET inhibitor treatment-naive patients. Conclusion This is the first study to investigate the safety and preliminary efficacy of alectinib in RET fusion-positive NSCLC patients. If successful, alectinib treatment may lead to substantial and important changes in the management of NSCLC with RET fusion genes. J. Med. Invest. 64: 317-320, August, 2017.

Refractory pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) have a poor prognosis and the treatment strategy remains to be established. This multi-institutional phase I study was performed to determine the safety, dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), and efficacy of [131I]-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (131I-mIBG) therapy for refractory PPGLs. Twenty patients with refractory PPGL were enrolled in this study. We administered fixed doses of 131I-mIBG to all patients, delivering a second and third course of 131I-mIBG to eight and three patients, respectively. During the 20 weeks after 131I-mIBG injection, the authors surveyed the adverse events in accordance with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. All patients experienced adverse events and adverse reactions, but none experienced a grade 4 adverse event. Twelve weeks after 131I-mIBG injection, examinations for the evaluation of therapeutic effects was performed in accordance with the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST). The best overall response rates (based on RECIST categories) were 10% (complete response), 65% (stable disease), 15% (progressive disease), and 10% (not all evaluated). The efficacy and safety of 131I-mIBG therapy was shown in patients with refractory PPGL, and DLT was observed in neither single nor repeated 131I-mIBG therapy, indicating a tolerability for 131I-mIBG therapy.

Background: Colonic diverticular disease has been increasing in prevalence due to the rapidly aging global population, but standard treatment has not changed dramatically in recent years. Daiobotanpito (DBT; Da Huang Mu Dan Tang in Chinese) has been used in medical treatment of acute abdominal abscesses, such as appendicitis or diverticulitis in traditional Japanese (Kampo) medicine for many years, based on more than 3000 years of experience. Prior to this study, a retrospective open-label trial was conducted to compare patients with acute diverticulitis who received oral DBT combined with intravenous antibiotics with those who received intravenous antibiotic alone; it showed a positive effect of DBT on acute diverticulitis. We aim to investigate whether moderate to severe acute diverticulitis shows greater improvement with intravenous antibiotics plus orally administered DBT compared with intravenous antibiotics with placebo. Methods: This is a two-group, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial, which is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DBT for moderate to severe diverticulitis patients treated with intravenous antibiotics. Eligible participants will be randomized to either a treatment group receiving a 10-day oral DBT regimen plus conventional therapy or a control group receiving a 10-day placebo regimen plus conventional therapy. The primary outcome will be the rate of fever reduction within 3 days or/and abdominal pain relief within 4 days. Secondary endpoints will include hospitalization days, changes in inflammatory response (CRP, WBC, neutrophil count), thermal type, number of days before beginning food intake, recurrence rate (observation for 1 year after registration), and adverse event expression rate. Assessments will be performed at baseline and on the day of discharge. The recurrence rate will be recorded at 1 year after registration. Discussion: This study is expected to provide evidence to support the clinical benefits of DBT in the treatment of acute diverticulitis. It may also provide evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of DBT in the recurrence of acute diverticulitis. Trial registration: UMIN000027381, registered on April 27th, 2017 https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-bin/ctr/ctr_view_reg.cgi?recptno=R000031377, and changed to jRCTs041180063, registered on July 30th, 2019; https://jrct.niph.go.jp/en-latest-detail/jRCTs041180063

Purpose Programmed death-1 (PD-1), a coinhibitory immune signal receptor expressed in T cells, binds to PD-1 ligand and regulates antitumor immunity. Nivolumab is an anti–PD-1 antibody that blocks PD-1 signaling. We assessed the safety and antitumor activity of nivolumab in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Patients and Methods Twenty patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer were treated with an intravenous infusion of nivolumab every 2 weeks at a dose of 1 or 3 mg/kg (constituting two 10-patient cohorts) from October 21, 2011. This phase II trial defined the primary end point as the best overall response. Patients received up to six cycles (four doses per cycle) of nivolumab treatment or received doses until disease progression occurred. Twenty nivolumab-treated patients were evaluated at the end of the trial on December 7, 2014. Results Grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in eight (40%) of 20 patients. Two patients had severe adverse events. In the 20 patients in whom responses could be evaluated, the best overall response was 15%, which included two patients who had a durable complete response (in the 3-mg/kg cohort). The disease control rate in all 20 patients was 45%. The median progression-free survival time was 3.5 months (95% CI, 1.7 to 3.9 months), and the median overall survival time was 20.0 months (95% CI, 7.0 months to not reached) at study termination. Conclusion This study, to our knowledge, is the first to explore the effects of nivolumab against ovarian cancer. The encouraging safety and clinical efficacy of nivolumab in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer indicate the merit of additional large-scale investigations (UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000005714).

The rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion gene was discovered as a driver oncogene in 1-2% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Alectinib is an approved anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor that may also be effective for RET fusion-positive NSCLC.RET fusion-positive NSCLC patients treated with at least one regimen of chemotherapy are being recruited. In step 1, alectinib (600 or 450 mg, twice daily) will be administered following a 3+3 design. The primary endpoint is safety. In step 2, alectinib will be administered at the recommended dose (RD) defined by step 1. The primary endpoint is the response rate of RET inhibitor treatment-naïve patients.This is the first study to investigate the safety and preliminary efficacy of alectinib in RET fusion-positive NSCLC patients. If successful, alectinib treatment may lead to substantial and important changes in the management of NSCLC with RET fusion genes. J. Med. Invest. 64: 317-320, August, 2017.

The majority of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) have gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement, but therapies using prokinetic agents are usually unsatisfactory. Ghrelin stimulates gastric motility in healthy human volunteers. In this study, we investigated whether ghrelin could improve gastric emptying in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms due to SSc. The study was performed in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover fashion on two occasions. Ten SSc patients with GI tract involvement received an infusion of either ghrelin (5.0 μg/kg) or saline, and gastric emptying rate was evaluated by ¹³C-acetic acid breath test. Gastric emptying was significantly accelerated by ghrelin infusion in patients with SSc (ghrelin vs. saline: 43.3 ± 11.4 min vs. 53.4 ± 5.4 min, P=0.03). No serious adverse effects were observed. Our results suggest that ghrelin might represent a new therapeutic approach for GI tract involvement in patients with SSc.

Chronic skin ulcers such as diabetic ulcers and venous leg ulcers are increasing and are a costly problem in healthcare. We have developed a novel artificial dermis, collagen/gelatin sponge (CGS), which is capable of sustained release of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for more than 10 days. The objective of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of CGS impregnated with bFGF in the treatment of chronic skin ulcers. Patients with chronic skin ulcers that had not healed in at least 4 weeks were treated with CGS impregnated with bFGF at 7 or 14 μg/cm(2) after debridement, and the wound bed improvement was assessed 14 days after application. Wound bed improvement was defined as a granulated and epithelialized area on day 14 with a proportion to the baseline wound area after debridement of 50% or higher. The wound area, the wound area on day 14, and the granulation area on day 14 were independently measured by blinded reviewers in a central review using digital images of wounds taken with a calibrator. Patients were followed up until 28 days after application to observe the adverse reactions related to the application of CGS. From May 2010 to June 2011, 17 patients were enrolled and, in 16 patients, the wound bed improved. Among the randomized patients in step 2, no significant difference was seen between the low-dose group and the high-dose group. No serious adverse reactions were observed. Adverse reactions with a clear causal relationship to the study treatment were mild and patients quickly recovered from them. This study is the first-in-man clinical trial of CGS and showed the safety and efficacy of CGS impregnated with bFGF in the treatment of chronic skin ulcers. This combination therapy could be a promising therapy for chronic skin ulcers.

Background: Developments in chemotherapy have led to changes in cancer care in Japan, with the government promoting a transition to outpatient chemotherapy. This requires patients and their families to participate more actively in treatment than in the past. However, it remains unclear how patients' motivation for medical treatment affects clinical consultations with their physicians. To investigate this, we developed a psychological index called the Achievement Motive Index for Medical Treatment (AMI-MeT), which comprises self-derived achievement motivation (AMS) and achievement motivation derived from others (AMO). However, its factor structure has not yet been confirmed in populations other than healthy university students. Thus, the aims of this study were to confirm the factor structure of the AMI-MeT in other groups and to determine the convergent and divergent validity of the AMI-MeT. Methods: The AMI-MeT was administered to university students (n = 414), apparently healthy workers (n = 154), and cancer patients (n = 51). Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was conducted and the mean scores of the AMI-MeT were compared between the groups. Correlations between the AMI-MeT and the Self-Construal Scale, comprising independent self-construal (IndSC) and interdependent self-construal (InterSC) subscales, were investigated in another group of students (n = 335). Results: The multi-group confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor structure of the AMI-MeT: The weak invariance model was the best fit for the data. The mean scores of the AMI-MeT in apparently healthy workers and cancer patients were significantly higher than that in students (P, The Erratum to this article has been published in BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 2016 16:28

Background: In this study, we hypothesized that probucol can ameliorate diabetic nephropathy by inducing Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). We examined and compared the effects of probucol and pitavastatin on diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice. Methods: Db/db mice were fed with normal chow with or without 0.1% probucol or 0.005% pitavastatin for eight weeks. Blood and urine samples were collected before administration and four and eight weeks after the treatment. We also performed a histological analysis at the end of the study. Results: Probucol, but not pitavastatin, treatment significantly decreased both serum cholesterol and triglycerides by more than 50%. Probucol and pitavastatin treatment decreased 24 hour urinary albumin excretion and glomerular Nrf2 expression and produced a histological improvement of diabetic nephropathy. Conclusions: Our data demonstrates that probucol can ameliorate diabetic nephropathy through its cholesterol-lowering effect and possibly its modifing effects on Nrf2 function in diabetes.

Background and aim Oxidative stress may play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Some angiotensin II type 1 (AT 1 ) receptor antagonists have the capacity of reducing oxidative stress in addition to the hemodynamic actions. Accordingly, we assessed the hypothesis that olmesartan, a novel AT 1 receptor antagonist, reduced the severity of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein (apo) E-deficient mice associated with reducing oxidative stress. Methods and results Atherosclerosis was induced in apo E-deficient mice fed a high fat diet. Mice were intraperitoneally treated with an injection of olmesartan (1mg/kg/day) daily over 8 weeks, and were compared with the untreated controls. Blood pressure was not changed significantly by the olmesartan treatment. Fatty streak plaque developed in apo E-deficient mice, and was suppressed in mice that received olmesartan. In addition, olmesartan reduced not only superoxide production but the overload of oxidative stress in aortic walls. There were no significant differences in serum lipid levels between olmesartan-treated and -untreated groups. In vitro study showed that both olmesartan and its active metabolite RNH-6270, an enantiomer of olmesartan, suppressed interferon-γ, macrophage inflammatory protein-2, and thioredoxin (a marker of oxidative stress) concentrations in cultured cells. Conclusion Olmesartan may suppress atherosclerosis via reducing not only superoxide production but also the overload of oxidative stress in this animal model.

The effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) on blood pressure (BP) are controversial. In this double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study, we examined the effects of repeated exposure to a 1-μT ELF-EMF on BP in 20 humans with mild-to-moderate hypertension. Subjects were randomly assigned to either the ELF-EMF group or the sham group. Subjects in the ELF-EMF group were exposed to an ELF-EMF (6- and 8 Hz, respectively, peak magnetic field 1 μT, peak electric field 10 Vm(-1)) for at least two 10- to 15-min sessions per week, over a period of 4 weeks. In the sham group, the EMF-generating apparatus was not active. We obtained systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP, respectively) measurements at registration and before and after each ELF-EMF exposure session. Subjects in the ELF-EMF and sham groups had mean ages of 52.8 and 55.1 years, and were exposed to a mean of 9.9 and 9.0 sessions, respectively. There was a significant difference between the ELF-EMF and sham groups with respect to change in SBP value between baseline and the end of the exposure regimen (P=0.02), but not with respect to change in DBP (P=0.21). There were no adverse events other than mild paresthesia of the hands of two subjects in the ELF-EMF group. Our results suggest that repeated exposure to an ELF-EMF has a BP-lowering effect on humans with mild-to-moderate hypertension.

Informed consent (IC) is an essential ethical requirement for conducting clinical trials. This study aimed to investigate changes in research on IC for clinical trials and compare the trend in Japan with that overseas. In February 2010, the electronic databases, PubMed and Japana Centra Revuo Medicina were searched for studies on IC for clinical trials both in and outside Japan. The literature search identified 89 Japanese studies and 401 overseas studies concerning IC for clinical trials. In Japan, these articles were first published in 1993, and the number increased remarkably from 2002. Many of these articles discussed the contribution of a clinical research coordinator or the understanding of the information by trial subjects. The overseas studies were first published in the early 1980s, and the number increased remarkably in the 1990s. Since, the enforcement of the new Good Clinical Practice in 1998, observational studies on IC for clinical trials have been conducted in Japan. However, most of these studies applied a quantitative approach, and qualitative analysis is limited. In Japan, IC is not focused exclusively on the protection of trial subjects, but also serves as the basis for an important encounter to build the physician-patient relationship. Therefore, investigations of the IC process by qualitative and quantitative approaches are necessary.

Objectives: In this study, we surveyed the methods of subject recruitment used in medical institutions and investigated the appropriate methods for each type of clinical study or medical institution.Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey regarding the methods of subject recruitment used in four medical institutions (Department of Clinical Research, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center; Clinical Trial Center, Shiga University of Medical Science Hospital; Center for Drug & Food Clinical Evaluation, Osaka City University Hospital; Translational Research Center, Kyoto University Hospital) in November 2009. We listed the methods of subject recruitment indicated in the responses and determined the suitability for specific target diseases or medical institutions based on the possibility of increasing the number of subjects or promoting registration of subjects.Results: Different methods aiming at facilitating recruitment were used depending on the target disease and the situation of the medical facility. These methods include advertising within the institution using audiovisual materials, putting information of the study on a web page, forming a volunteer group, and explaining the clinical study separately from outpatient consultation.Conclusion: It is necessary to select and combine methods of subject recruitment depending on target disease and situation of the medical facility.