Clinical characteristics of patients with difficult-to-treat ulcerative colitis: a nested case-control study using a Japanese claims database.

Background/aims: Despite the advent of advanced therapies, cases of so-called "difficult-to-treat" (D2T) ulcerative colitis (UC) persist. This study aims to clarify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with D2T UC.

Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study using the Medical Data Vision Claims Database in patients with UC who began an advanced therapy (biologics, advanced small molecules, calcineurin inhibitors) from January 2018 through April 2023.

Outcomes of Early Versus Delayed Anemia Treatment in Nondialysis-Dependent CKD.

Introduction: The association of hemoglobin level at treatment initiation with renal and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with anemia in nondialysis-dependent (NDD) chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unclear.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized 2 Japanese databases (Medical Data Vision Co. Ltd.

Different Food Preferences in Patients with Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Objective Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as functional dyspepsia (FD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can exhibit overlapping GI symptoms, including abdominal pain and alterations in bowel habits. The symptoms of GI disorders are commonly considered to be triggered and exacerbated by fatty food intake. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the food preferences of patients with GI disorders.

Effectiveness of a Lifestyle Improvement Support App in Combination with a Wearable Device in Japanese People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: STEP-DM Study.

Introduction: Although the use of application (app)s and wearable devices supporting diabetes treatment has spread rapidly in recent years, evidence of their impact, especially in combination of them, is limited. TOMOCO™ is a lifestyle improvement support app that features interactive virtual conversations according to the programmed algorithm guiding users toward their goals of lifestyle improvement. We hypothesized that TOMOCO™ in combination with Fitbit, which accurately tracks users' activity level, would encourage people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to change their lifestyles and improve their glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels without changes in conventional therapy.

Sctensor detects many-to-many cell-cell interactions from single cell RNA-sequencing data.

Background: Complex biological systems are described as a multitude of cell-cell interactions (CCIs). Recent single-cell RNA-sequencing studies focus on CCIs based on ligand-receptor (L-R) gene co-expression but the analytical methods are not appropriate to detect many-to-many CCIs.

Results: In this work, we propose scTensor, a novel method for extracting representative triadic relationships (or hypergraphs), which include ligand-expression, receptor-expression, and related L-R pairs.

Differences between patients with inpatient-onset and outpatient-onset acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding: An observational study.

Background And Aim: The clinical severity and course of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding (ALGIB) are believed to differ between inpatient-onset and outpatient-onset cases, but no reports have investigated these issues in detail. We aimed to evaluate the clinical differences between inpatient-onset and outpatient-onset ALGIB.

Methods: Medical records of patients who had undergone emergency colonoscopy for ALGIB were retrospectively reviewed.

The NBDC-DDBJ imputation server facilitates the use of controlled access reference panel datasets in Japan.

Accurate genotype imputation requires large-scale reference panel datasets. When conducting genotype imputation on the Japanese population, researchers can use such datasets under collaborative studies or controlled access conditions in public databases. We developed the NBDC-DDBJ imputation server, which securely provides users with a web user interface to execute genotype imputation on the server.

Characteristics of Japanese patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease initiating treatment for anemia: a retrospective real-world database study.

Objective: Anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to evaluate hemoglobin levels at the initiation of erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) therapy in patients with non-dialysis-dependent CKD (NDD-CKD) and anemia using a large-scale administrative database in Japan.

Methods: The longitudinal data of adult patients who initiated ESA therapy between April 2008 and December 2018 were extracted from a hospital-based administrative database.

Predicting a rapid response to adalimumab treatment and favorable short-term outcomes through the high platelet count in patients with ulcerative colitis: A multicenter retrospective cohort study.

This study aimed to investigate the short-term effectiveness of adalimumab therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), especially its rapid response.This retrospective, multicenter, cohort study involved 7 institutes in Japan, compiling data from patients with UC who had received at least 1 induction dose of 160 mg of adalimumab between June 2013 and May 2017. Patients should have a Lichtiger clinical activity index score of ≥5 at the initial adalimumab administration.

Molecular biomarker identification for esophageal adenocarcinoma using endoscopic brushing and magnified endoscopy.

Background: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a predisposing factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC); however, the precise mechanism underlying this association remains unclear. The identification of biomarkers that are associated with an increased risk of BE progression to EAC would facilitate diagnosis and early treatment. Toward this goal, we aimed to identify biomarkers associated with BE and EAC in patients.

A nationwide, multi-center, retrospective study of symptomatic small bowel stricture in patients with Crohn's disease.

Background: Small bowel stricture is one of the most common complications in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) is a minimally invasive treatment intended to avoid surgery; however, whether EBD prevents subsequent surgery remains unclear. We aimed to reveal the factors contributing to surgery in patients with small bowel stricture and the factors associated with subsequent surgery after initial EBD.

Analysis of the colonic mucosa associated microbiota (MAM) using brushing samples during colonic endoscopic procedures.

The mucosa-associated microbiota is an important component in human microbiota. The aim was to investigate mucosa-associated microbiota using brush samples during endoscopic procedures and compare with fecal microbiota. Seven patients who were planning to undergo a routine colonoscopy were recruited.

[Duodenal obstruction after transarterial embolization for rupture of a pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm due to segmental arterial mediolysis:a case report].

A man in his 60s visited a local clinic because of repeated bouts of intermittent epigastric and back pain since July 2017. He was referred to our department because of suspected acute abdomen. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed an aneurysm in the anterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery, and a retroperitoneal hematoma was observed.

The TPH1 rs211105 gene polymorphism affects abdominal symptoms and quality of life of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

The gastrointestinal symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome are strongly related to impaired quality of life (QOL), especially in diarrhea-predominant. The gene polymorphisms associated with serotonin, or 5-hydroxytryptamine, alter gastrointestinal symptoms and mental status. We aimed to evaluate the effects of gene polymorphisms on gastrointestinal symptoms, psychological conditions, and QOL, and compare these between patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome ( = 62) and healthy controls ( = 64).

Cytokine Profile and Immunoglobulin E-mediated Serological Food Hypersensitivity in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Diarrhea.

Background/aims: Food interaction, including food hypersensitivity, plays a key role in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D). Since only a few studies have been reported about the relationship between food hypersensitivity and IBS-D, we elucidate the prevalence of serological food hypersensitivity in patients with IBS-D and the characteristics of gastrointestinal symptoms and serum cytokine profiles in patients with IBS-D and serological food hypersensitivity.

Methods: Immunoglobulin E (Ig E)-mediated serological food hypersensitivity and serum cytokine levels were evaluated using the multiple allergen simultaneous test evaluating food allergen-specific serum IgE and Luminex Milliplex Panel containing multiple fluorescence-labeled beads.

Colonic endoscopic mucosal resection in patients taking anticoagulants: Is heparin bridging therapy necessary?

Objective: Heparin bridging therapy (HBT) reportedly increases the risk of post-procedural bleeding, and its safety during endoscopic interventions remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effects of peri-procedural HBT in patients taking anticoagulants who underwent colonic endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for polyps.

Methods: Patients who underwent colonic EMR while taking a single anticoagulant agent were enrolled in this study.

Safety and Efficacy of Teneligliptin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Impaired Renal Function: Interim Report from Post-marketing Surveillance.

Introduction: Teneligliptin is a novel oral dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Safety and efficacy of teneligliptin have been demonstrated in clinical studies; however, data supporting its use in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment are limited. This interim analysis of a post-marketing surveillance of teneligliptin, exploRing the long-term efficacy and safety included cardiovascUlar events in patients with type 2 diaBetes treated bY teneligliptin in the real-world (RUBY), aims to verify the long-term safety and efficacy of teneligliptin in Japanese patients with T2DM and impaired renal function.

Efficacy and Safety of Teneligliptin 40 mg in Type 2 Diabetes: A Pooled Analysis of Two Phase III Clinical Studies.

Introduction: Teneligliptin, an antihyperglycemic agent belonging to the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor class, is usually prescribed at a dose of 20 mg/day. In Japan, the dose can be increased to 40 mg/day if needed. We examined the treatment response when the teneligliptin dose was increased from 20 to 40 mg in a post hoc pooled analysis of data from two 52-week, open-label, phase III clinical trials of teneligliptin 20-40 mg/day as monotherapy or combination treatment in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Hypergastrinemia in Long-Term Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors.

Background/aim: The use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is known to lead to hypergastrinemia; however, the data in patients with atrophic gastritis is still lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term PPIs use on the gastrin levels in patients with atrophic gastritis and to determine factors affecting hypergastrinemia in long-term users of PPIs.

Methods: Serum Helicobacter pylori IgG, gastrin and pepsinogen levels were measured.

Long-term retention of adalimumab treatment and associated prognostic factors for 1189 patients with Crohn's disease.

Background And Aim: There are few studies on the long-term efficacy of adalimumab treatment for patients with Crohn's disease. We have conducted a large, multicenter, retrospective cohort study to evaluate the long-term retention rate and prognostic factors associated with the discontinuation of adalimumab treatment in patients with Crohn's disease.

Methods: Data were collected from all patients with Crohn's disease who had received at least one induction dose of 160 mg of adalimumab between October 2010 and December 2013 at 41 institutions.

Differences in the clinical course of 516 Japanese patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding between weekday and weekend admissions.

Background And Aims: Patients suspected of having upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) admitted during the weekend tend to have a poor outcome in western countries. However, no Japanese studies have been reported on this matter. We aimed to evaluate differences in the clinical course of patients with UGIB between weekday and weekend admissions in Japan.

Early Intervention with Infliximab Prevents Reoperation in Crohn's Disease: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis.

Background/aims: We aimed to evaluate the prognostic factors that can aid in the prevention of first and second surgeries in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: The clinical records of 115 patients with CD whose disease onset was between January 1987 and July 2012 were retrospectively investigated. The cumulative rate of bowel resection for CD-related intestinal manifestations following onset until the first surgery and the cumulative rate of reoperation following the first to second surgeries were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the relationship to each factor was statistically analyzed using the log-rank test.

Gender Differences in Serotonin Signaling in Patients with Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Objective Gender differences, including differences in the prevalence, subtypes and the effectiveness of treatment, are generally recognized in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Although serotonin type 3 receptor (5-HT3R) antagonists appear to be more effective in women with diarrhea predominant IBS (IBS-D) than they are in men, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. The aim of the present was to investigate the gender differences in 5-HT signaling.