YAP activation in Müller cells protects against NMDA-induced retinal ganglion cell injury by regulating Bcl-xL expression.

Retinal neurodegeneration, characterized by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death, is a leading cause of vision impairment and loss in blind diseases, such as glaucoma. Müller cells play crucial roles in maintaining retinal homeostasis. Thus, dysfunction of Müller cells has been implicated as one of the causes of retinal diseases.

Intravenous immunoglobulin-induced thrombocytopenia: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a pooled blood product acquired from multiple healthy donors, is an effective treatment for various types of autoimmune diseases, haematological disorders, and infectious diseases. Adverse haematological events such as throm-bocytopenia are rarely caused by IVIG.

Objectives: To investigate the phenomenon of IVIG-induced thrombocytopenia.

Reliability of antinuclear matrix protein 2 antibody assays in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies is dependent on target protein properties.

A line blotting assay (LB) is currently used to detect myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSAs) in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), because of its simplicity; however, the sensitivity and specificity of this assay is low. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the commercial LB in detection of antinuclear matrix protein 2 (NXP2) antibody. Seventy-seven serum samples from patients with IIMs, in which anti-NXP2 antibodies were detected through immunoprecipitation and western blotting (IP-WB) using K562 cell lysate, were enrolled.

Evaluation of apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, for refractory cutaneous dermatomyositis: A phase 1b clinical trial.

Dermatomyositis, an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, is characterized by cutaneous itchy manifestations, which are frequently refractory and recurrent even after intensive immunosuppressive treatments. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, in treating skin-dominant dermatomyositis in which myositis and interstitial lung disease are absent or in remission, we performed this prospective, single-arm, interventional study. A total of five Japanese patients (one male and four females, median [range] age, 64 [37-71] years) with refractory dermatomyositis-associated cutaneous manifestations were recruited and treated with a 12-week course of oral apremilast.

Serum lactate dehydrogenase level as a possible predictor of treatment preference in psoriasis.

Background: The efficacy of small molecule inhibitors for intracellular signal mediators varies among the individuals, and their mechanism of action is broad. A phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor apremilast shows a dramatic effect on a certain proportion of psoriatic patients by modulating the cellular metabolism and regulating the production of pro-inflammatory molecules. However, it is unclear to which disease subtype this drug benefits.

Anti-nuclear matrix protein 2 antibody-positive inflammatory myopathies represent extensive myositis without dermatomyositis-specific rash.

Objectives: Myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSAs) define distinct clinical subsets of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). The anti-nuclear matrix protein 2 (NXP2) antibody, a MSA detected in juvenile/adult IIMs, has been reported to be associated with a high risk of subcutaneous calcinosis, subcutaneous oedema and internal malignancies. The study aimed to clarify the clinical features of anti-NXP2 antibody-positive IIMs in detail.

Invasive and in situ lesions of squamous cell carcinoma are independent factors for postoperative surgical-site infection after outpatient skin tumors surgery: A retrospective study of 512 patients.

Surgical-site infection (SSI) is one of the major postoperative complications in surgery, which can cause significant morbidity. However, factors associated with SSI in dermatological surgery are not well understood. Here, we retrospectively investigated 512 patients who underwent outpatient surgery for skin tumors at the University of Tsukuba Hospital to analyze factors associated with postoperative SSI.

The Possibility of Deep Learning-Based, Computer-Aided Skin Tumor Classifiers.

The incidence of skin tumors has steadily increased. Although most are benign and do not affect survival, some of the more malignant skin tumors present a lethal threat if a delay in diagnosis permits them to become advanced. Ideally, an inspection by an expert dermatologist would accurately detect malignant skin tumors in the early stage; however, it is not practical for every single patient to receive intensive screening by dermatologists.

Unusual Bone Lesions with Osteonecrosis Mimicking Bone Metastasis of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa.

Some bone lesions are reported to mimic bone metastasis on imaging tests. Herein, we report a case of a 55-year-old Japanese man who presented with a skin tumor on the left lower extremity. He also had a history of recurrent generalized cutaneous blister and erosion formation since childhood.