Association of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use with encephalopathy development: an analysis using the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) databases


Effect of pre-treatment with EGFR-TKIs on immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated interstitial lung disease in lung cancer patients: Analysis using a Japanese claims database.

Although further analyses are required to confirm our findings, this study indicated that pre-treatment with EGFR-TKI might not increase the ILD risk after ICI treatment.

A total of 353 patients were included, of which 61 were included in the ILD group. The median time to onset of ILD after ICI administration was 3 months. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that pre-treatment with EGFR-TKI was not associated with ICI-associated ILD (odds ratio: 0.26, 95% confidence interval: 0.033 - 2.01).

International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics


CA9 and PRELID2; hypoxia-responsive potential therapeutic targets for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma as per bioinformatics analyses.

A strong hypoxic environment has been observed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells, which contributes to drug resistance, tumor progression, and metastasis. Therefore, we performed bioinformatics analyses to investigate potential targets for the treatment of PDAC. To identify potential genes as effective PDAC treatment targets, we selected all genes whose expression level was related to worse overall survival (OS) in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and selected only the genes that matched with the genes upregulated due to hypoxia in pancreatic cancer cells in the dataset obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Although the extracted 107 hypoxia-responsive genes included the genes that were slightly enriched in angiogenic factors, TCGA data analysis revealed that the expression level of endothelial cell (EC) markers did not affect OS. Finally, we selected CA9 and PRELID2 as potential targets for PDAC treatment and elucidated that a CA9 inhibitor, U-104, suppressed pancreatic cancer cell growth more effectively than 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and PRELID2 siRNA treatment suppressed the cell growth stronger than CA9 siRNA treatment. Thus, we elucidated that specific inhibition of PRELID2 as well as CA9, extracted via exhaustive bioinformatic analyses of clinical datasets, could be a more effective strategy for PDAC treatment.


Angiogenesis inhibitor-specific hypertension increases the risk of developing aortic dissection.

Aortic dissection is an adverse event of angiogenesis inhibitors; however, the association between the drugs and aortic dissection is unclear. Therefore, we investigated if and how angiogenesis inhibitors increase the onset of aortic dissection using pharmacologically-induced aortic dissection-prone model (LAB) mice, cultured endothelial cells, and real-world databases, which is a novel integrated research approach. Disproportionality analysis was performed and calculated using the reporting odds ratio as a risk signal using a worldwide database of spontaneous adverse events to estimate the risk of adverse events. Angiogenesis inhibitors, but not other hypertension-inducing drugs, showed significant risk signals for aortic aneurysms and dissection. A retrospective cohort analysis using JMDC, a medical receipt database in Japan, showed that the history of atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia, but not hypertension, were significantly associated with the onset of aortic dissection during angiogenesis inhibitor medication administration. For in vivo studies, sunitinib (100 mg/kg/day) was administered to LAB mice. Sunitinib increased systolic blood pressure (182 mmHg vs. 288 mmHg with sunitinib; p<0.01) and the incidence of aortic dissection (40% vs. 59% with sunitinib; p = 0.34) in mice. In vivo and in vitro studies revealed that sunitinib increased endothelin-1 expression and induced endothelial cell damage evaluated by intracellular- and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expressions. The increased risk of developing aortic dissection with angiogenesis inhibitors is associated with the development of drug-specific hypertension via endothelial cell damage and endothelin-1 expression. Our findings are invaluable in establishing safer anticancer therapies and strategies to prevent the development of vascular toxicity in high-risk patients.


Structural characterization of the optical isomers esomeprazole and omeprazole using the JADER and FAERS databases

It is unclear whether the s (-) form of esomeprazole (EPZ) has an improved safety profile when compared with its racemic form omeprazole (OPZ). We assessed the potential complications of these optical isomers when combined with cilostazol, clopidogrel, and prasugrel, which are frequently used concomitant medications. Using two adverse event spontaneous reporting databases, Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) and FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), adverse event names for hemorrhage, venous/arterial embolization, and thrombus were obtained from the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities. Reported odds ratios were calculated using a 2 × 2 contingency table, and a signal was considered present if the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval was >1. In combination with cilostazol, a hemorrhagic signal for OPZ in JADER and arterial emboli and thrombus signals for EPZ were detected in both databases. In combination with clopidogrel, OPZ showed arterial emboli and thrombus signals in JADER and venous/arterial emboli and thrombus signals in FAERS, while EPZ displayed arterial emboli and thrombus signals in FAERS. In contrast, when in combination with prasugrel, there were no adverse event signals in either database. This study has confirmed using big data, that EPZ, the optical isomer and racemic form of omeprazole, has the beneficial characteristics of being less sensitive to CYP, as was intended by its design.


Pharmacovigilance Study on Eosinophilic Pneumonia Induced by Anti-MRSA Agents: Analysis Based on the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System.

This study revealed that among the anti-MRSA agents, disproportionality in the occurrence of EP was observed only with DAP. Our results suggest that sex, age, and treatment duration may affect the occurrence of DAP-induced EP. Clinicians should exercise caution regarding EP during DAP administration.


Trends in Head and Neck Cancer Mortality from 1999 to 2019 in Japan: An Observational Analysis.

= 156,742). HNC mortality trends were analysed using joinpoint regression models to estimate annual percentage change (APC) and average APC (AAPC). Among men, no significant change was observed in the age-adjusted death rate trend from 1999 to 2014; however, a marked decrease was observed from 2014 to 2019. No changing point was observed in women. Age-adjusted mortality rates continuously decreased over the 21-year period, with an AAPC of -0.7% in men and -0.6% in women. In conclusion, the overall trend in age-adjusted rates of HNC-associated deaths decreased, particularly among men, in the past 5 years. These results will contribute to the formulation of medical policies to develop targeted screening and prevention programmes for HNC in Japan and determine the direction of treatment strategies.


A polo-like kinase inhibitor identified by computational repositioning attenuates pulmonary fibrosis.

These findings suggest that targeting PLK1 may be a novel therapeutic approach for pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting lung fibroblast proliferation without affecting lung epithelial cells. In addition, while in silico screening is useful, it is essential to fully determine the biological activities of candidates by wet-lab validation studies.


Cardiovascular Toxicities Associated with Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Inhibitors: A Disproportionality Analysis of the WHO Pharmacovigilance Database (VigiBase).

Systematic evaluation of ALK inhibitor-associated adverse events revealed differences in the cardiotoxicity profiles among ALK inhibitors. Understanding the differences in the cardiovascular toxicity profile of each ALK inhibitor will contribute to safe drug therapy when switching between ALK inhibitors.


Proton Pump Inhibitors and Rhabdomyolysis: Analysis of Two Different Cross-Sectional Databases.

The data in 2 separate databases consistently suggest that PPIs may increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis. The evidence for this association should be assessed in further drug safety studies.


Effects of vonoprazan and proton pump inhibitors on the efficacy of bevacizumab: a multicentre retrospective study.

Gastric acid secretion inhibitors such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and vonoprazan may change the duration of treatment with bevacizumab, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, for cancer. However, there are no data on this prolongation effect. Here, we aimed to determine whether the use of PPIs or vonoprazan in patients with cancer receiving bevacizumab affected the duration of bevacizumab treatment. This observational study was conducted at two national university hospitals in Japan and involved 222 patients using oral PPIs (N = 190) or vonoprazan (N = 32) at the start of bevacizumab treatment between January 2015 and December 2018. Patients who received only one course of bevacizumab were excluded. The primary endpoint was the duration of bevacizumab treatment. The duration of bevacizumab treatment varied significantly between the PPI and vonoprazan groups. For cancer types other than colorectal cancer (breast, lung, brain, and ovarian cancers), the median duration of treatment was 217 days (p < 0.05) and was longer in the vonoprazan group than in the PPI group. However, for colorectal cancer, the median duration of bevacizumab treatment was 147 days longer in the PPI group than in the vonoprazan group. Selection of appropriate gastric acid secretion inhibitors may improve the therapeutic efficacy of anti-VEGF drugs, including bevacizumab. Oestrogen is a key regulator of this effect and may be responsible for the varying association between PPI or vonoprazan administration and the difference in bevacizumab treatment duration between colon cancer and other cancer types.


Characterization of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Myasthenia Gravis Using the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare but fatal adverse event of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We assessed whether patient characteristics differed between those with ICI-related myasthenia gravis and those with idiopathic myasthenia gravis. Reports from the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System were analyzed. Multivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate the associations between age, sex, and ICI treatment and the reporting rate of myasthenia gravis. Among 5 464 099 cases between 2011 and 2019, 53 447 were treated with ICIs. Myasthenia gravis was reported more often in ICI users. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that the reporting rate of ICI-related myasthenia gravis did not differ significantly between men and women; however, it was higher in older people than in younger people (adjusted odds ratio, 2.4 [95%CI, 1.84-3.13]). We also investigated useful signs for the early detection of myositis and myocarditis, which are fatal when overlapping with ICI-related myasthenia gravis. Patients with elevated serum creatine kinase or troponin levels were more likely to have concurrent myositis and myocarditis. Unlike idiopathic myasthenia gravis, there was no sex difference in the development of ICI-related myasthenia gravis, which may be more common in older people. Considering the physiological muscle weakness that occurs in the elderly, it may be necessary to monitor ICI-related myasthenia gravis more closely in older people.


Differential effects of proton pump inhibitors and vonoprazan on vascular endothelial growth factor expression in cancer cells.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are potent inhibitors of gastric acid secretion, used as first-line agents in treating peptic ulcers. However, we have previously reported that PPIs may diminish the therapeutic effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs in patients with cancer. In this study, we explored the effects of vonoprazan, a novel gastric acid secretion inhibitor used for the treatment of peptic ulcers, on the secretion of VEGF in cancer cells and attempted to propose it as an alternative PPI for cancer chemotherapy. The effects of PPI and vonoprazan on VEGF expression in cancer cells were compared by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and ELISA. The interaction of vonoprazan and PPIs with transcriptional regulators by docking simulation analysis. In various cancer cell lines, including the human colorectal cancer cell line (LS174T), PPI increased VEGF messenger RNA expression and VEGF protein secretion, while this effect was not observed with vonoprazan. Molecular docking simulation analysis showed that vonoprazan had a lower binding affinity for estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α), one of the transcriptional regulators of VEGF, compared to PPI. Although the PPI-induced increase in VEGF expression was counteracted by pharmacological ER-α inhibition, the effect of vonoprazan on VEGF expression was unchanged. Vonoprazan does not affect VEGF expression in cancer cells, which suggests that vonoprazan might be an alternative to PPIs, with no interference with the therapeutic effects of anti-VEGF cancer chemotherapy.


Non-recovery of vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity is related to worsening survival outcomes: Combined retrospective analyses of two real-world databases.

There has been growing concern in worsening survival and renal outcomes following vancomycin-associated nephrotoxicity (VAN) onset, but the factors associated with these phenomena remain unclear. To examine these factors, we performed a retrospective study combining the analysis of two real-world databases. Initially, the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) was used to evaluate the relationship between VAN and mortality using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Next, electronic medical records (EMRs) were examined in a more robust cohort for evaluation of the association between renal outcomes and worsening survival using Cox proportional hazards regression models. FAERS analysis revealed a significant correlation between VAN occurrence and increased mortality (OR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.17-1.46). EMR analysis showed that non-recovery of VAN was associated with increased hospital mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 4.05; 95% CI: 2.42-6.77) and 1-year mortality (HR: 3.03, 95% CI: 1.98-4.64). The HR for VAN recovery was lower for patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) stage 2 (HR: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.02-0.40). Thus, worsening survival outcomes were associated with non-recovery of VAN, whereby AKI stage 2 was a significant risk factor. Progression to severe VAN should be prevented for better survival outcomes.

Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology


Evaluation of the potential complication of interstitial lung disease associated with antifibrotic drugs using data from databases reporting spontaneous adverse effects.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD), as an adverse effect of certain drugs, leads to inflammation and damage in the walls of the alveoli, making it difficult for the alveoli to take up oxygen. Interstitial pneumonia with no identifiable cause is called idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP), and, among the major IIPs, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is diagnosed in about half of patients. Current treatment options are limited, among which the antifibrotic drugs nintedanib (Ofev) and pirfenidone (Pirespa) are the first-line drugs. In this study, we investigated the incidence of ILD possibly caused by antifibrotic agents using data from the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database, a database of spontaneous adverse event reports published by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), published by the FDA. We used the FAERS and JADER to detect the signals of adverse events on the basis of reporting odds ratios. The relationship between indications and adverse events was clarified by separating indications and adverse events using the spontaneous adverse event reporting database with novel drug involvement. Regarding the involvement of nintedanib and pirfenidone in the development of ILD, JADER and FAERS showed signals for both nintedanib and pirfenidone as suspect drugs, and no signals for nintedanib or pirfenidone as concomitant drug interactions were detected. We highlight this because there are only a few effective drugs for IPF, and effective and safe drug therapies should be implemented by taking into consideration drug-induced ILD.


First reported case of Lachnoanaerobaculum gingivalis bacteremia in an acute myeloid leukemia patient with oral mucositis during high dose chemotherapy.

During chemotherapy in patients with oral mucositis, we should consider the possibility of L. gingivalis bacteremia.


Prevention of Pemetrexed-Induced Rash Using Low-Dose Corticosteroids: A Phase II Study.

Prophylactic administration of low-dose dexamethasone for 5 days from the day after pemetrexed administration resulted in a milder incidence and severity of rash. These findings may provide a standard preventative strategy for pemetrexed-induced rashes. (Trial identifier: UMIN000025666).

This single-arm, phase II study recruited patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma scheduled to receive chemotherapy including pemetrexed. Patients received 2 mg of dexamethasone daily from days 2 to 6 after chemotherapy with pemetrexed. The primary endpoint was the 3-week incidence of rash eruptions.


A machine learning model using SNPs obtained from a genome-wide association study predicts the onset of vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy

Vincristine treatment may cause peripheral neuropathy. In this study, we identified the genes associated with the development of peripheral neuropathy due to vincristine therapy using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and constructed a predictive model for the development of peripheral neuropathy using genetic information-based machine learning. The study included 72 patients admitted to the Department of Hematology, Tokushima University Hospital, who received vincristine. Of these, 56 were genotyped using the Illumina Asian Screening Array-24 Kit, and a GWAS for the onset of peripheral neuropathy caused by vincristine was conducted. Using Sanger sequencing for 16 validation samples, the top three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the onset of peripheral neuropathy were determined. Machine learning was performed using the statistical software R package "caret". The 56 GWAS and 16 validation samples were used as the training and test sets, respectively. Predictive models were constructed using random forest, support vector machine, naive Bayes, and neural network algorithms. According to the GWAS, rs2110179, rs7126100, and rs2076549 were associated with the development of peripheral neuropathy on vincristine administration. Machine learning was performed using these three SNPs to construct a prediction model. A high accuracy of 93.8% was obtained with the support vector machine and neural network using rs2110179 and rs2076549. Thus, peripheral neuropathy development due to vincristine therapy can be effectively predicted by a machine learning prediction model using SNPs associated with it.


Investigation of drugs for the prevention of doxorubicin-induced cardiac events using big data analysis.

These findings suggest that doxorubicin-induced cardiac events are suppressed by the administration of mosapride and sirolimus.

The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS), and Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) databases were used to extract candidate prophylactic drugs. Mouse models of doxorubicin-induced cardiac events were generated by intraperitoneal administration of 20 mg/kg of doxorubicin on Day 1 and oral administration of prophylactic candidate drugs for 6 consecutive days beginning the day before doxorubicin administration. On Day 6, mouse hearts were extracted and examined for mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes.


Discovery of preventive drugs for cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury using big data analysis.

Cisplatin is effective against many types of carcinoma. However, a high rate of renal damage is a clinical problem. Thus, there is a need to establish a method to prevent it. Although various compounds have been reported to be effective against cisplatin-induced renal injury, there are no examples of their clinical application. Therefore, we attempted to search for prophylactic agents with a high potential for clinical application. We used Cascade Eye to identify genes that are altered during cisplatin-induced renal injury, Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) to identify drugs that inhibit changes in gene expression, and a large database of spontaneous adverse drug reaction reports to identify drugs that could prevent cisplatin-induced kidney injury in clinical practice. In total, 10 candidate drugs were identified. Using the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), we identified drugs that reduce cisplatin-induced kidney injury. Fenofibrate was selected as a candidate drug to prevent cisplatin-induced kidney injury based on the FAERS analysis. A model was used to evaluate the efficacy of fenofibrate against cisplatin-induced renal injury. Studies using HK2 cells and mouse models showed that fenofibrate significantly inhibited cisplatin-induced renal injury but did not inhibit the antitumor effect of cisplatin. Fenofibrate is a candidate prophylactic drug with high clinical applicability for cisplatin-induced renal injury. Analysis of data from multiple big databases will improve the search for novel prophylactic drugs with high clinical applicability. For the practical application of these findings, evaluation in prospective controlled trials is necessary.


A web-based survey of educational opportunities of medical professionals based on changes in conference design during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10639-022-11032-5.


Association between statin use and daptomycin-related musculoskeletal adverse events: A mixed approach combining a meta-analysis and a disproportionality analysis.

There is a growing concern about the association between the combined use of daptomycin (DAP) and statins and the occurrence of musculoskeletal adverse events (MAEs), but this remains controversial. This study aimed to clarify the association between statin use and DAP-related MAEs. We used a mixed approach that combines two methodologies. First, we conducted a meta-analysis to examine the effects of statin use on DAP-related MAEs. Second, we conducted a disproportionality analysis using the FDA Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) to further confirm the results of the meta-analysis and to examine the effect of each type of statin on DAP-related MAEs in a large population. In the meta-analysis, statin use significantly increased the incidence of DAP-related rhabdomyolysis (odds ratio [OR]: 3.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.43-10.26) but not DAP-related myopathy (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 0.95-3.12). In the disproportionality analysis using the FAERS, the use of statin significantly increased the reporting OR (ROR) for DAP-related myopathy (ROR: 5.69, 95% CI: 4.31-7.51) and rhabdomyolysis (ROR: 5.77, 95% CI: 4.33-7.68). Atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin all increased the incidence of DAP-related myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. The mixed approach combining a meta-analysis and disproportionality analysis showed that statin use was associated with the occurrence of DAP-related rhabdomyolysis. The appropriate use of statins and DAP should be performed with careful consideration of its safety.


Identification of prophylactic drugs for oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy using big data.

Thus, drug repositioning using data from large-scale basic and clinical databases enables the discovery of new indications for approved drugs with a high probability of success.


A genome-wide association study predicts the onset of dysgeusia due to anti-cancer drug treatment

Dysgeusia is a major side effect of anti-cancer drug treatment. Since dysgeusia significantly lowers the patient's QOL, predicting and avoiding its onset in advance is desirable. Accordingly, aims of the present study were to use a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genes associated with the development of dysgeusia in patients taking anti-cancer drugs and to predict the development of dysgeusia using associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). GWAS was conducted on 76 patients admitted to the Department of Hematology, Tokushima University Hospital. Using Sanger sequencing for 23 separately collected validation samples, the top two SNPs associated with the development of dysgeusia were determined. GWAS identified rs73049478 and rs41396146 SNPs on the retinoic acid receptor beta (RARB) gene associated with dysgeusia development due to the administration of anti-cancer drugs. Evaluation of the two SNPs using 23 validation samples indicated that the accuracy rate of rs73049478 was relatively high (87.0%). Thus, the findings of the present study suggest that the rs73049478 SNP of RARB can be used to predict the onset of dysgeusia caused by the administration of anti-cancer drugs.


Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors Prevent the Onset of Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Retrospective Multicenter Study and in Vitro Evaluation.

Oxaliplatin (OXA) is used in chemotherapy for various cancer types and is associated with acute and chronic neurotoxicity. However, a preventive strategy for OXA-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) and its underlying mechanism remain unclear. We examined the effects of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASIs) on OIPN by performing a retrospective multicenter study and an in vitro assay. We retrospectively evaluated electronic medical records of 976 patients who underwent one or more courses of OXA-containing regimens at Ehime, Okayama, and Tokushima University Hospitals. The primary endpoint was the incidence of OIPN during or after OXA administration. The effects of RAASIs and OXA on the neurite length in PC12 cells were determined. The combined administration of an OXA-containing regimen and RAASI significantly inhibited the cumulative incidence grade-2 or higher OIPN (log-rank test; p = 0.0001). RAASIs markedly suppressed the development of both acute and chronic OIPN (multivariate analysis; p = 0.017 and p = 0.011). In an in vitro assay, 10 µM OXA suppressed the neurite length; treatment with 1 µM aliskiren, spironolactone, 10 µM candesartan, and enalapril significantly restored neurite length to the control level. Moreover, 1 µM SCH772984 (a selective inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, ERK1/2) and 500 µM SQ22536 (a cell-permeable adenylate cyclase (AC) inhibitor) markedly abolished neurite-extending effects of candesartan and enalapril. These results indicate that RAASIs possess preventive or therapeutic effects in acute and chronic OIPN, candesartan and enalapril may increase in the activity of ERK1/2 and AC in PC12 cells.


Risk of Hematologic Events With Coadministration of Methotrexate and the Breast Cancer Resistance Protein Inhibitor Febuxostat.

The breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) is a key drug transporter found in the liver, kidney, central nervous system, and gastrointestinal tract. Due to the wide expression of BCRP, interactions of other drugs with methotrexate (MTX) may differ in oral and intravenous MTX users, and understanding of these interactions may be useful in preventing severe adverse events. Febuxostat, a urate-lowering drug, inhibits BCRP. The objective of this study was to clarify the differences in the drug-drug interaction profiles of oral and intravenous methotrexate, associated with BCRP. We analyzed the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database and compared the frequency of hematologic events in patients taking oral and intravenous MTX, with or without the concomitant use of febuxostat or allopurinol. Hematologic events were defined as pancytopenia and neutropenia. Multiple logistic regression analysis was then used to identify the risk factors for hematologic events in oral and intravenous MTX users. We identified 8 453 oral and 810 intravenous MTX users with 546 and 126 cases of hematologic events, respectively. Compared with those not using febuxostat, a disproportionate number of hematologic events was observed in intravenous MTX users concomitantly using febuxostat ( < 0.01). The multivariate logistic analysis of intravenous MTX users showed that hematologic events were significantly associated with febuxostat use ( < 0.01) and age ≥ 60 years ( < 0.01). Our findings suggest that patients being treated with intravenous MTX who concomitantly use febuxostat may be at an increased risk of hematologic events, presumably due to BCRP-mediated drug-drug interaction.


Impact of Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve on the Prevalence of Vancomycin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Combination With Tazobactam/Piperacillin or Cefepime: A Single-Institution Retrospective Study.

VIN risk was higher with VT than with VC, even when the AUC was controlled to the guideline-recommended range. These results strongly suggest that VIN prevention may be difficult with AUC-guided vancomycin dosing in patients receiving VT.

The prevalences of VIN were 29.5% (18/61) and 7.1% (3/42) in the VT and VC groups, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis of data from all patients revealed concurrent use of tazobactam/piperacillin (odds ratio [OR] = 4.59; P = 0.039) and AUC increase (OR = 1.01; P < 0.01) as risk factors for VIN, but only concurrent use of tazobactam/piperacillin was identified as a risk factor in patients with an AUC of <600 μg · h/mL, the guideline-recommended value (OR = 9.52; P = 0.041). Moreover, the vancomycin exposure-toxicity curve showed that in the guideline-recommended AUC range, VIN probability was consistently higher and the slope of VIN probability was greater in the VT group than in the VC group.


Evaluation of Potential Complications of Interstitial Lung Disease Associated With Antiandrogens Using Data From Databases Reporting Spontaneous Adverse Effects.

From 2002 to 2018, the number of patients with prostate cancer significantly increased from 679,023 to 1276,106 worldwide. Total prostatectomy (including robot-assisted prostatectomy), radiation therapy, and pharmacological treatment are commonly used to treat prostate cancer. The Chief of the Pharmaceutical Safety Division, that is, the Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Associations of Japan (FPMAJ), recently called for the revision of package inserts for ethical drugs. However, the pathogenesis of interstitial lung disease (ILD), a serious drug-induced adverse effect, remains unclear. Moreover, there have been no large-scale evaluations of potential complications associated with currently used antiandrogens, which are commonly employed to treat prostate cancer. Hence, ILD, as an adverse event, remains poorly understood. Therefore, we conducted a survey of reports in the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database to investigate the potential association between the reporting of ILD and antiandrogen drug use in clinical practice. The occurrence of ILD was investigated by evaluating the relationship between antiandrogen drug use and ILD. Adverse event signals were detected with reporting odds ratios (RORs), using data from the JADER and FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) databases, for the analysis of post-marketing adverse event reports. The JADER was used to examine the time profile of adverse event occurrence for each drug, whereas the FAERS was used to screen cases of unknown adverse events and analyze their trends of occurrence. The analysis of data from both databases revealed the 95% confidence interval lower limits of ROR for bicalutamide and flutamide to be > 1, and adverse event signals were detected following the use of either drug. While caution should be exercised for drugs that are new to the market, we conclude that drugs with similar therapeutic effects that have been in use for a long period should also be re-examined for potential adverse events.


Effects of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists on cisplatin-induced kidney injury.

receptor antagonists do not worsen cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury. The findings should be validated in a prospective controlled trial before implementation in clinical practice.


Evaluation of potential complication of interstitial lung disease with abemaciclib and palbociclib treatments.

Treatment with abemaciclib and palbociclib is associated with a potential complication of interstitial lung disease, regardless of age.

We evaluated the relationship between the CDK4/6 inhibitors (abemaciclib and palbociclib) and interstitial lung disease in clinical practice using data from the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database and FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) to detect adverse event signals with reported odds ratios (RORs). Furthermore, we performed an adverse event-time analysis for each drug using data from the JADER database to examine the time of onset of the adverse events. The analysis of the reports in the JADER database showed that the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) of ROR for abemaciclib was >1 regardless of age, and a signal was detected. Interstitial lung disease associated with abemaciclib and palbociclib use has been reported, with an average onset period from treatment initiation [median (25th-75th quartile)] of 65.1 [56.0 days (25.3-98.3 days)] and 53.1 days [38.0 days (10.8-76.0 days)], respectively. The analysis of the reports in the FAERS showed that the lower limit of the 95% CI of the ROR for the two drugs was >1, and a signal was detected.


薬剤誘発性大動脈解離易発症モデルマウスを用いた薬効評価

薬剤誘発性大動脈解離易発症モデルマウスを用いた薬効評価

Aortic dissection (or dissecting aortic aneurysm) is a condition in which the aortic wall is separated into two layers at the medial level to form a pseudocavity. The intima crack, called the ``entry'', allows blood to tear through the medial layer and flow in. The location of the ``entry'' and the extent of the dissection can cause a variety of serious complications, including rupture, cardiac tamponade, and obstruction of branched vessels. According to the Guideline on Diagnosis and Treatment of Aortic Aneurysm and Aortic Dissection 2020, it is estimated that 61.4% of the onset of dissection die before arrival at the hospital, and 93% will die within 24 hours after the onset. It has been suggested that the morbidity rate has been increasing in recent years. Since many of them have a fatal prognosis, it is an important issue to prevent the onset itself. However, no effective therapeutic agent or preventive strategy has been established so far. The first reason is that it is extremely difficult to design clinical studies because aortic dissection traced the rapid onset and progression. The second is that the pathophysiology and preventive drug search are not sufficiently conducted even at the basic research level. Epidemiologically, the results of the International Registry of Aortic Dissection (IRAD) revealed that aging, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and hereditary connective tissue diseases are risk factors. The aortic aneurysm also shows similar pathological conditions caused by these risk factors. However, one of the major differences between aneurysm and dissection is the presence of aortic intima rupture. Therefore, we attempted to establish a mouse model developing dissection at a high rate by adding the endothelial dysfunction to a pharmacologically induced aortic aneurysm model mouse. Furthermore, we evaluated the efficacy of pitavastatin and several nutrients using our novel model mice and verified its usefulness as a model animal.


Examination of the antiepileptic effects of valacyclovir using kindling mice- search for novel antiepileptic agents by drug repositioning using a large medical information database.

Despite the availability of more than 20 clinical antiepileptic drugs, approximately 30% of patients with epilepsy do not respond to antiepileptic drug treatment. Therefore, it is important to develop antiepileptic products that function via novel mechanisms. In the present study, we evaluated data from one of the largest global databases to identify drugs with antiepileptic effects, and subsequently attempted to understand the effect of the combination of antiepileptic drugs and valacyclovir in epileptic seizures using a kindling model. To induce kindling in mice, pentylenetetrazol at a dose of 40 mg/kg was administered once every 48 h. Valacyclovir was orally administered 30 min before antiepileptic drug injection in kindled mice, and behavioral seizures were monitored for 20 min following pentylenetetrazol administration. Additionally, c-Fos expression in the hippocampal dentate gyrus was measured in kindled mice. Valacyclovir showed inhibitory effects on pentylenetetrazol-induced kindled seizures. In addition, simultaneous use of levetiracetam and valacyclovir caused more potent inhibition of seizure activity, and neither valproic acid nor diazepam augmented the anti-seizure effect in kindled mice. Furthermore, kindled mice showed increased c-Fos levels in the dentate gyrus. The increase in c-Fos expression was significantly inhibited by the simultaneous use of levetiracetam and valacyclovir. The findings of the present study indicate that a combination of levetiracetam and valacyclovir had possible anticonvulsive effects on pentylenetetrazol-induced kindled epileptic seizures. These results suggest that valacyclovir may have an antiseizure effect in patients with epilepsy.


Population-Based Observational Study of Adverse Drug Event-Related Mortality in the Super-Aged Society of Japan.

The number of and trend in ADE-related deaths increased in Japan from 1999 to 2016, particularly in the older population.


The Risk Factors Associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Pneumonitis.

Our data suggest that the risk of ICI-related pneumonitis may increase in certain populations, including younger age (age <60 years) and ICIs users. These patients require careful monitoring.


Association analysis between adverse drug reactions to cytarabine therapy and single nucleotide polymorphisms in cytarabine metabolic genes in patients with hematopoietic tumor


Academic investigators' interest in promoting specified clinical trials : Questionnaire survey before and after implementation of the Clinical Trial Act

Background : Enforcement of the 2018 Clinical Trials Act (CTA) in Japan resulted in strict and complicated regulations surrounding intervention studies. Few Japan-specific measures have been developed to promote intervention studies in Japan despite concerns about CTA's negative influence on such studies. Therefore, this study examined the changes in academic investigators' interest in conducting clinical studies before and after enforcement of the CTA to determine measures to promote specified clinical trials. Methods : We conducted a questionnaire survey with investigators belonging to the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, before and after enforcement of the CTA. Results : Investigators had lesser interest in intervention studies in the post-questionnaire survey (post) group than in the pre-questionnaire survey (pre) group. Their desire for "project management" was significantly higher in the post-group than in the pre-group. Their desire for "support for preparing documents when conducting specified clinical trials" was significantly higher in the group interested in conducting specified clinical trials than that in the not-interested group. Conclusion : We revealed that investigators were highly interested in "project management" and "support for preparing documents when conducting specified clinical trials" after enforcement of the CTA. Measures for these desires may promote specified clinical trials. J. Med. Invest. 68 : 71-75, February, 2021.

The Journal of Medical Investigation : JMI


Chronic Tear Deficiency Sensitizes Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1-Mediated Responses in Corneal Sensory Nerves.

Chronic tear deficiency enhances the excitability of corneal cold-sensitive nerves that detect ocular dryness, which can lead to discomfort in patients with dry eye disease (DED). However, changes in corneal nerve excitations through the polymodal nociceptor "transient receptor potential vanilloid 1" (TRPV1) and the potential link between this receptor and symptoms of DED remain unclear. In this study, we examined the firing properties of corneal cold-sensitive nerves expressing TRPV1 and possible contributions of chronic tear deficiency to corneal nerve excitability by TRPV1 activation. The bilateral excision of lacrimal glands in guinea pigs decreased the tear volume and increased the frequency of spontaneous eyeblinks 1-4 weeks after surgery. An analysis of the firing properties of the cold-sensitive nerves was performed by single-unit recordings of corneal preparations 4 weeks after surgery in both the sham-operated and gland-excised groups. Perfusion of the TRPV1 agonist, capsaicin (1 μM), transiently increased the firing frequency in approximately 46-48% of the cold-sensitive nerves characterized by low-background activity and high threshold (LB-HT) cold thermoreceptors in both groups. Gland excision significantly decreased the latency of capsaicin-induced firing in cold-sensitive nerves; however, its magnitude was unchanged. Calcium imaging of cultured trigeminal ganglion neurons from both groups showed that intracellular calcium elevation of corneal neurons induced by a low concentration of capsaicin (0.03 μM) was significantly larger in the gland excision group, regardless of responsiveness to cold. An immunohistochemical study of the trigeminal ganglion revealed that gland excision significantly increased the proportion of corneal neurons enclosed by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunopositive satellite glial cells. Topical application of the TRPV1 antagonist, A784168 (30 μM), on the ocular surface attenuated eye-blink frequency after gland excision. Furthermore, gland excision enhanced blink behavior induced by a low concentration of capsaicin (0.1 μM). These results suggest that chronic tear deficiency sensitizes the TRPV1-mediated response in the corneal LB-HT cold thermoreceptors and cold-insensitive polymodal nociceptors, which may be linked to dry eye discomfort and hyperalgesia resulting from nociceptive stimuli in aqueous-deficient dry eyes.


Differences in risk factors for anticoagulant-related nephropathy between warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants: analysis of the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database.

Limited information is available on anticoagulant-related nephropathy (ARN). We therefore reviewed the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database to investigate kidney injury (KI) in patients administered warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and sought to clarify the risk factors for ARN. KI risk in warfarin users was associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35-2.13; P < 0.01) and age 80 years (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.07-1.72; P = 0.01). KI risk in DOAC users was associated with body weight 80 kg (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.01-2.53; P = 0.04) and use of dabigatran (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.09-2.37; P < 0.01). Our findings suggest that risk factors for ARN differ between warfarin and DOACs, and that these risk factors may be associated with bleeding risk. Therefore, the risk of ARN may be decreased by better managing bleeding risk in patients taking anticoagulants.

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology


Investigation of drugs affecting hypertension in bevacizumab-treated patients and examination of the impact on the therapeutic effect.

PPIs prevent hypertension in bevacizumab-treated patients but may reduce bevacizumab's anti-tumoral effects by inducing VEGF expression.


A comparison of the safety and effectiveness of prasugrel and clopidogrel in younger population undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A retrospective study using a Japanese claims database.

The safety and effectiveness of prasugrel was comparable to that of clopidogrel in real-world Japanese patients scheduled to undergo PCI.


Preventive Effects of Quercetin against the Onset of Atherosclerosis-Related Acute Aortic Syndromes in Mice

International Journal of Molecular Sciences


Risk factors of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related interstitial lung disease in patients with lung cancer: a single-institution retrospective study.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) elicit antitumour effects by activating the host immunity and cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs). ICI-related interstitial lung disease (ICI-ILD) is a fatal irAE that is difficult to treat; moreover, its incidence is relatively higher in patients with lung cancer. Therefore, early ICI-ILD detection and intervention are important for patient safety. However, a risk assessment method for ICI-ILD has not been established and the prediction of ICI-ILD occurrence is difficult. The aim of our study was to identify the risk factors associated with ICI-ILD. To this end, we retrospectively analysed 102 patients with lung cancer who first received ICI and completed the treatment between April 2016 and December 2019 at Tokushima University Hospital. Nineteen patients had all grades of ICI-ILD and 10 had grade ≥ 3 ICI-ILD. The 30-day mortality rate of patients with grade ≥ 3 ICI-ILD was the highest among all patients (P < 0.01). The multivariate logistic analysis indicated that the performance status ≥ 2 alone and both performance status ≥ 2 and ≥ 50 pack-year were independent risk factors of ICI-ILD of grade ≥ 3 and all grades, respectively. Overall, our study provides insights to predict ICI-ILD occurrence.


Deletion of H-ferritin in macrophages alleviates obesity and diabetes induced by high-fat diet in mice

Iron accumulation affects obesity and diabetes, both of which are ameliorated by iron reduction. Ferritin, an iron-storage protein, plays a crucial role in iron metabolism. H-ferritin exerts its cytoprotective action by reducing toxicity via its ferroxidase activity. We investigated the role of macrophage H-ferritin in obesity and diabetes. Conditional macrophage-specific H-ferritin (Fth, also known as Fth1) knockout (LysM-Cre Fth KO) mice were used and divided into four groups: wild-type (WT) and LysM-Cre Fth KO mice with normal diet (ND), and WT and LysM-Cre Fth KO mice with high-fat diet (HFD). These mice were analysed for characteristics of obesity and diabetes, tissue iron content, inflammation, oxidative stress, insulin sensitivity and metabolic measurements. RAW264.7 macrophage cells were used for in vitro experiments. Iron concentration reduced, and mRNA expression of ferroportin increased, in macrophages from LysM-Cre Fth KO mice. HFD-induced obesity was lower in LysM-Cre Fth KO mice than in WT mice at 12 weeks (body weight: KO 34.6 ± 5.6 g vs WT 40.1 ± 5.2 g). mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines and infiltrated macrophages and oxidative stress increased in the adipose tissue of HFD-fed WT mice, but was not elevated in HFD-fed LysM-Cre Fth KO mice. However, WT mice fed an HFD had elevated iron concentration in adipose tissue and spleen, which was not observed in LysM-Cre Fth KO mice fed an HFD (adipose tissue [μmol Fe/g protein]: KO 1496 ± 479 vs WT 2316 ± 866; spleen [μmol Fe/g protein]: KO 218 ± 54 vs WT 334 ± 83). Moreover, HFD administration impaired both glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in WT mice, which was ameliorated in LysM-Cre Fth KO mice. In addition, energy expenditure, mRNA expression of thermogenic genes, and body temperature were higher in KO mice with HFD than WT mice with HFD. In vitro experiments showed that iron content was reduced, and lipopolysaccharide-induced Tnf-α (also known as Tnf) mRNA upregulation was inhibited in a macrophage cell line transfected with Fth siRNA. Deletion of macrophage H-ferritin suppresses the inflammatory response by reducing intracellular iron levels, resulting in the prevention of HFD-induced obesity and diabetes. The findings from this study highlight macrophage iron levels as a potential therapeutic target for obesity and diabetes.


Anti-PD-1 antibody combined with chemotherapy suppresses the growth of mesothelioma by reducing myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

The combination of anti-PD-1 antibody with CDDP + PEM may be a promising therapy for MPM via inhibiting the accumulation of MDSCs and vessels in tumors.


Fibroblast-specific ERK5 deficiency changes tumor vasculature and exacerbates tumor progression in a mouse model.

The roles of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been studied in the tumor progression, and CAFs are expected to become the new targets for cancer pharmacotherapies. CAFs contribute to tumor cell survival and proliferation, tumor angiogenesis, immune suppression, tumor inflammation, tumor cell invasion and metastasis, and extracellular matrix remodeling. However, detailed mechanisms of how CAFs function in the living system remain unclear. CAFs include α-smooth muscle actin, expressing activated fibroblasts similar to myofibroblasts, and are highly capable of producing collagen. Several reports have demonstrated the contributions of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) in fibroblasts to the fibrotic processes; however, the roles of CAF-derived ERK5 remain unclear. To investigate the roles of CAF-derived ERK5 in the tumor progression, we created mice lacking the ERK5 gene specifically in fibroblasts. Colon-26 mouse colon cancer cells were implanted into the mice subcutaneously, and the histological analyses of the tumor tissue were performed after 2 weeks. Immunofluorescence analyses showed that recipient-derived fibroblasts existed within the tumor tissue. The present study demonstrated that fibroblast-specific ERK5 deficiency exacerbated tumor progression and it was accompanied with thicker tumor vessel formation and the increase in the number of activated fibroblasts. We combined the results of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database analysis with our animal studies, and indicated that regulating ERK5 activity in CAFs or CAF invasion into the tumor tissue can be important strategies for the development of new targets in cancer pharmacotherapies.

Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology


Comparison of Hemorrhagic Risk between Prasugrel and Clopidogrel: a Retrospective Study using Adverse Drug Event Reporting Databases.

: The hemorrhagic risk was found to be greater with prasugrel than clopidogrel in real-world patients, including Japanese patients.

International Journal of Medical Sciences


Rho-associated protein kinase and cyclophilin a are involved in inorganic phosphate-induced calcification signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Arterial calcification, a risk factor of cardiovascular events, develops with differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) into osteoblast-like cells. Cyclophilin A (CypA) is a peptidyl-prolyl isomerase involved in cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and aortic aneurysms, and rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) is involved in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification. CypA is secreted in a ROCK activity-dependent manner and works as a mitogen via autocrine or paracrine mechanisms in VSMCs. We examined the involvement of the ROCK-CypA axis in VSMC calcification induced by inorganic phosphate (Pi), a potent cell mineralization initiator. We found that Pi stimulated ROCK activity, CypA secretion, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation, and runt-related transcription factor 2 expression, resulting in calcium accumulation in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs). The ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 significantly suppressed Pi-induced CypA secretion, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and calcium accumulation. Recombinant CypA was found to be associated with increased calcium accumulation in RASMCs. Based on these results, we suggest that autocrine CypA is mediated by ROCK activity and is involved in Pi-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation following calcification signaling in RASMCs.


Proton pump inhibitors block iron absorption through direct regulation of hepcidin via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated pathway

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been used worldwide to treat gastrointestinal disorders. A recent study showed that long-term use of PPIs caused iron deficiency; however, it is unclear whether PPIs affect iron metabolism directly. We investigated the effect of PPIs on the peptide hepcidin, an important iron regulatory hormone. First, we used the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database and analyzed the influence of PPIs. We found that PPIs, as well as H2 blockers, increased the odds ratio of iron-deficient anemia. Next, HepG2 cells were used to examine the action of PPIs and H2 blockers on hepcidin. PPIs augmented hepcidin expression, while H2 blockers did not. In fact, the PPI omeprazole increased hepcidin secretion, and omeprazole-induced hepcidin upregulation was inhibited by gene silencing or the pharmacological inhibition of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. In mouse experiments, omeprazole also increased hepatic hepcidin mRNA expression and blood hepcidin levels. In mice treated with omeprazole, protein levels of duodenal and splenic ferroportin decreased. Taken together, PPIs directly affect iron metabolism by suppressing iron absorption through the inhibition of duodenal ferroportin via hepcidin upregulation. These findings provide a new insight into the molecular mechanism of PPI-induced iron deficiency.


Search for Therapeutic Agents for Cardiac Arrest Using a Drug Discovery Tool and Large-Scale Medical Information Database.

The survival rate of cardiac arrest patients is less than 10%; therefore, development of a therapeutic strategy that improves their prognosis is necessary. Herein, we searched data collected from medical facilities throughout Japan for drugs that improve the survival rate of cardiac arrest patients. Candidate drugs, which could improve the prognosis of cardiac arrest patients, were extracted using "TargetMine," a drug discovery tool. We investigated whether the candidate drugs were among the drugs administered within 1 month after cardiac arrest in data of cardiac arrest cases obtained from the Japan Medical Data Center. Logistic regression analysis was performed, with the explanatory variables being the presence or absence of the administration of those candidate drugs that were administered to 10 patients and the objective variable being the "survival discharge." Adjusted odds ratios for survival discharge were calculated using propensity scores for drugs that significantly improved the proportion of survival discharge; the influence of covariates, such as patient background, medical history, and treatment factors, was excluded by the inverse probability-of-treatment weighted method. Using the search strategy, we extracted 165 drugs with vasodilator activity as candidate drugs. Drugs not approved in Japan, oral medicines, and external medicines were excluded. Then, we investigated whether the candidate drugs were administered to the 2,227 cardiac arrest patients included in this study. The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that three (isosorbide dinitrate, nitroglycerin, and nicardipine) of seven drugs that were administered to 10 patients showed significant association with improvement in the proportion of survival discharge. Further analyses using propensity scores revealed that the adjusted odds ratios for survival discharge for patients administered isosorbide dinitrate, nitroglycerin, and nicardipine were 3.35, 5.44, and 4.58, respectively. Thus, it can be suggested that isosorbide dinitrate, nitroglycerin, and nicardipine could be novel therapeutic agents for improving the prognosis of cardiac arrest patients.


Effect of serum concentration and concomitant drugs on vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury in haematologic patients: a single-centre retrospective study.

We retrospectively analysed 150 haematologic patients to whom VCM was administered between April 2010 and March 2018 at Tokushima University Hospital. VCM-induced AKI was defined according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for VCM-induced AKI.

The optimal initial VCM trough concentration was 10-15 mg/L in haematologic patients, considering safety and effectiveness. There were differences in the effect of VCM-induced AKI between nephrotoxic drugs.

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology


Prophylactic administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in epirubicin and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy for Japanese breast cancer patients: a retrospective study.

The incidence of FN in EC therapy among Japanese patients was higher than expected, EC therapy appears to be a high-risk chemotherapy for FN, and prophylactic administration of G-CSF is recommended. Maintaining high therapeutic intensity is associated with a positive prognosis for patients with early breast cancer, and prophylactic administration of G-CSF is likely to be beneficial in treatment involving EC therapy.

The incidence rate of FN was 23.9%. In patients who received G-CSF as primary prophylaxis, FN expression was completely suppressed. The incidence rate of severe leucopenia/neutropenia, emergency hospitalization, and the use of antimicrobial agents were low in patients receiving primary prophylaxis with G-CSF compared with those not receiving G-CSF (27.3% vs. 64.8%, 9.1% vs. 27.3%, and 27.3% vs. 71.6%, respectively). Furthermore, in all patients who received primary prophylaxis with G-CSF, a relative dose intensity > 85% using EC therapy was maintained.


Factors Associated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Myocarditis.


Skeletal muscle atrophy is caused by disruption in the homeostatic balance of muscle degeneration and regeneration under various pathophysiological conditions. We have previously reported that iron accumulation induces skeletal muscle atrophy a ubiquitin ligase-dependent pathway. However, the potential effect of iron accumulation on muscle regeneration remains unclear. To examine the effect of iron accumulation on myogenesis, we used a mouse model with cardiotoxin (CTX)-induced muscle regeneration and C2C12 mouse myoblast cells . In mice with iron overload, the skeletal muscles exhibited increased oxidative stress and decreased expression of satellite cell markers. Following CTX-induced muscle injury, these mice also displayed delayed muscle regeneration with a decrease in the size of regenerating myofibers, reduced expression of myoblast differentiation markers, and decreased phosphorylation of MAPK signaling pathways. , iron overload also suppressed the differentiation of C2C12 myoblast cells but the suppression could be reversed by superoxide scavenging using tempol. Excess iron inhibits myogenesis oxidative stress, leading to an imbalance in skeletal muscle homeostasis.-Ikeda, Y., Satoh, A., Horinouchi, Y., Hamano, H., Watanabe, H., Imao, M., Imanishi, M., Zamami, Y., Takechi, K., Izawa-Ishizawa, Y., Miyamoto, L., Hirayama, T., Nagasawa, H., Ishizawa, K., Aihara, K.-I., Tsuchiya, K., Tamaki, T. Iron accumulation causes impaired myogenesis correlated with MAPK signaling pathway inhibition by oxidative stress.


Irinotecan-induced neutropenia is reduced by oral alkalization drugs: analysis using retrospective chart reviews and the spontaneous reporting database.

These data indicate that oral alkalization drugs may reduce the frequency of neutropenia caused by irinotecan administration, making it possible to increase the dose safely.


Xanthine Oxidase Inhibition by Febuxostat in Macrophages Suppresses Angiotensin II-induced Aortic Fibrosis.

Our results suggested that FEB ameliorates Ang II-induced aortic fibrosis via suppressing macrophage-derived TGF-1 expression.


Development of a novel aortic dissection mouse model and evaluation of drug efficacy using in-vivo assays and database analyses.

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening disease. At present, the only therapeutic strategies available are surgery and antihypertensive drugs. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms underlying the onset of aortic dissection are still unclear. We established a novel aortic dissection model in mice using pharmacologically induced endothelial dysfunction. We then used the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database to investigate the role of pitavastatin in preventing the onset of aortic dissection. To induce endothelial dysfunction, Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, was administered to C57BL/6 mice. Three weeks later, angiotensin II (Ang II) and β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), a lysyl oxidase inhibitor, were administered with osmotic mini-pumps. False lumen formation was used as the pathological determinant of aortic dissection. The incidences of aortic dissection and death from aneurysmal rupture were significantly higher in the Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, Ang II, and BAPN (LAB) group than they were in the Ang II and BAPN (AB) group.Pitavastatin was administered orally to LAB mice. It significantly lowered the incidences of dissection and rupture. It also decreased inflammation and medial degradation, both of which were exacerbated in the LAB group. The Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database analysis indicated that there were 113 cases of aortic dissection out of 95 090 patients (0.12%) not receiving statins but only six cases out of 16 668 patients receiving statins (0.04%) (odds ratio: 0.30; P = 0.0043). Our results suggest that endothelial dysfunction is associated with the onset of aortic dissection and pitavastatin can help prevent this condition.


Study on the Optimal Dose of Irinotecan for Patients with Heterozygous Uridine Diphosphate-Glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1).

Uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), a metabolic enzyme of irinotecan active metabolite, has two genetic polymorphisms (UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28). In UGT1A1 homozygous or heterozygous patients, metabolism is delayed and the risk of developing adverse effects is increased, and therefore, dose reduction of irinotecan is considered. However, the specific dose reduction rate of irinotecan for heterozygous patients is uncertain. We studied the necessity of irinotecan dose reduction and its optimal dose in UGT1A1 heterozygous patients with lung cancer. Patients with lung cancer treated with irinotecan in the Tokushima University Hospital or Tokushima Municipal Hospital were included in this study. The dose of irinotecan was evaluated based on the relative dose intensity (RDI). The time to treatment failure (TTF) was defined as the period until treatment change, death, or progressive disease based on response evaluation criteria of solid tumors. We targeted 31 patients treated with irinotecan: 12 wild types (WT), 14 heterozygotes, and 1 complex heterozygote and 4 homozygotes. There was no significant difference in the TTF, but the mean RDI during the entire treatment period was significantly different in the wild type (79%), heterozygous (62%), and complex heterozygous and homozygous groups (46%). In addition, the proportion of patients who completed treatment without dose reduction in the WT group tended to be higher than that in the other groups. For lung cancer patients with UGT1A1 heterozygote types who start irinotecan therapy, reducing the initial dose by approximately 20% might be a safer chemotherapy without decreasing the therapeutic effect.


Pharmacovigilance evaluation of the relationship between impaired glucose metabolism and BCR-ABL inhibitor use by using an adverse drug event reporting database.

Breakpoint cluster region-Abelson murine leukemia (BCR-ABL) inhibitors markedly improve the prognosis of chronic myeloid leukemia. However, high treatment adherence is necessary for successful treatment with BCR-ABL inhibitors. Therefore, an adequate understanding of the adverse event profiles of BCR-ABL inhibitors is essential. Although many adverse events are observed in trials, an accurate identification of adverse events based only on clinical trial results is difficult because of strict entry criteria or limited follow-up durations. In particular, BCR-ABL inhibitor-induced impaired glucose metabolism remains controversial. Pharmacovigilance evaluations using spontaneous reporting systems are useful for analyzing drug-related adverse events in clinical settings. Therefore, we conducted signal detection analyses for BCR-ABL inhibitor-induced impaired glucose metabolism by using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database. Signals for an increased reporting rate of impaired glucose metabolism were detected only for nilotinib use, whereas these signals were not detected for other BCR-ABL inhibitors. Subgroup analyses showed a clearly increased nilotinib-associated reporting rate of impaired glucose metabolism in male and younger patients. Although FAERS- and JADER-based signal detection analyses cannot determine causality perfectly, our study suggests the effects on glucose metabolism are different between BCR-ABL inhibitors and provides useful information for the selection of appropriate BCR-ABL inhibitors.


Association Between Immune-Related Adverse Events and Clinical Efficacy in Patients with Melanoma Treated With Nivolumab: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Our study indicated that clinical response with nivolumab treatment improves with irAE occurrence in patients with melanoma. Moreover, the early increase in peripheral lymphocyte count may act as a biomarker for predicting the occurrence of irAEs induced by nivolumab.

After a median of 4 cycles of nivolumab treatment, irAEs occurred. The DCRs were 75% and 14% in the irAEs-positive and irAEs-negative groups, respectively (p < 0.05). OS in the irAEs-positive group was higher than that in the irAEs-negative group (p < 0.05). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that irAE occurrence affected OS with nivolumab treatment. Moreover, the increase in baseline peripheral lymphocyte count at the time of onset of irAEs was significantly greater in the irAEs-positive group than in the irAEs-negative group after 4 cycles of nivolumab treatment (p < 0.05).


Relationship between the administration of nicardipine hydrochloride and the development of delirium in patients on mechanical ventilation.

A history of hypertension is a known risk factor for delirium in patients in intensive care units, but the effect of antihypertensive agents on delirium development is unclear. Nicardipine, a calcium channel blocker, is widely used in ICU as a treatment agent for hypertensive emergency. This study investigated the relationship between the administration of nicardipine hydrochloride and delirium development in patients under mechanical ventilation. We conducted a medical chart review of 103 patients, who were divided into two groups according to the use of nicardipine hydrochloride. The prevalence of delirium was compared with respect to factors such as age, sex, laboratory data, and medical history, by multivariate analysis. 21 patients (20.4 %) were treated with nicardipine hydrochloride in 103 patients. The treatment and non-treatment groups differed significantly in age (72 vs. 65 years) and history of high blood pressure (57% vs. 11%). Multivariate analysis revealed that patients in the treatment group developed delirium significantly less often than those in the non-treatment group (19% vs. 48%). These results suggested that treatment of high blood pressure with nicardipine hydrochloride is a possible method for preventing the development of delirium.


Nitrosonifedipine, a Photodegradation Product of Nifedipine, Suppresses Pharmacologically Induced Aortic Aneurysm Formation.

We have reported that nitrosonifedipine (NO-NIF), a photodegradation product of nifedipine, has strong antioxidant and endothelial protective effects, and can suppress several cardiovascular diseases in animal models. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of NO-NIF on aortic aneurysm formation. The mice were infused with β-aminopropionitrile for 2 weeks and angiotensin II for 6 weeks to induce aortic aneurysm formation. The oxidative stress was measured by dihydroethidium staining and nitrotyrosine staining. The expressions of inflammation-related genes were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemical staining. To clarify the mechanisms of how NO-NIF suppresses vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, endothelial cells were used in in vitro system. NO-NIF suppressed pharmacologically induced the aortic aneurysm formation and aortic expansion without blood pressure changes. NO-NIF suppressed elastin degradation and matrix metalloproteinase-2 mRNA expression. NO-NIF suppressed the reactive oxygen species-cyclophilin A positive feedback loop. Upregulated mRNA expressions of inflammation-related genes and endothelial VCAM-1 were suppressed by NO-NIF co-treatment in aortae. NO-NIF has the potential to be a new, nifedipine-derived therapeutic drug for suppressing aortic aneurysm formation by directly improving aortic structure with its strong ability to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.


Development and pharmacist-mediated use of tools for monitoring atypical antipsychotic-induced side effects related to blood glucose levels.

The results suggested that regardless of pharmacists' experience or skill, the introduction of this tool enables centralization of side effect monitoring and can contribute to proper drug use.


Renoprotective effects of a factor Xa inhibitor: fusion of basic research and a database analysis.

Renal tubulointerstitial injury, an inflammation-associated condition, is a major cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Levels of activated factor X (FXa), a blood coagulation factor, are increased in various inflammatory diseases. Therefore, we investigated the protective effects of an FXa inhibitor against renal tubulointerstitial injury using unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mice (a renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis model) and the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) database. The renal expression levels of FX and the FXa receptors protease-activated receptor (PAR)-1 and PAR-2 were significantly higher in UUO mice than in sham-operated mice. UUO-induced tubulointerstitial fibrosis and extracellular matrix expression were suppressed in UUO mice treated with the FXa inhibitor edoxaban. Additionally, edoxaban attenuated UUO-induced macrophage infiltration and inflammatory molecule upregulation. In an analysis of the FAERS database, there were significantly fewer reports of tubulointerstitial nephritis for patients treated with FXa inhibitors than for patients not treated with inhibitors. These results suggest that FXa inhibitors exert protective effects against CKD by inhibiting tubulointerstitial fibrosis.


The uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate interferes with iron metabolism by regulating hepcidin in chronic kidney disease


Potential Usefulness of Early Potassium Supplementation for Preventing Severe Hypokalemia Induced by Liposomal Amphotericin B in Hematologic Patients: A Retrospective Study.

This study showed that starting administration of a potassium formulation within 2 days from the start of L-AMB administration was a risk reduction factor for L-AMB-induced hypokalemia. This finding indicates that early potassium supplementation should be incorporated into the regimen of hypokalemia management when L-AMB is used.


Administration of Kampo medicine through a tube at an advanced critical care center.

n emergency and critical care medical centers, tube administration is employed for patients who have difficulty swallowing oral drugs owing to decreased consciousness or mechanical ventilation. However, tube clogging due to drug injection is a concern. We compared the crushing method with the simple suspension method for the passage of amlodipine, an antihypertensive drug, in combination with rikkunshito, which has been used to treat upper gastrointestinal disorders such as functional dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux in emergency and critical care medical centers, to ascertain the effect of Kampo products on the passage of other drugs during tube administration. When the crushing method was employed, poorly water-soluble solid products were formed, while a uniformly dispersed suspension was obtained using the simple suspension method. In addition, the passage rate of amlodipine through the tube was 64% and 93% in the crushing and simple suspension methods, respectively, thereby indicating that the simple suspension method provided more favorable than the crushing method. The results of this study suggested that the passage rate of amlodipine for patients who received Kampo products concurrently was higher when the simple suspension method was used, and an appropriate drug amount might well be able to administered to patients using this method. J. Med. Invest. 65:32-36, February, 2018.

The Journal of Medical Investigation : JMI


Evaluation of the Benefits of De-Escalation for Patients with Sepsis in the Emergency Intensive Care Unit.

The length of hospital stay after diagnosis was significantly shorter for the de-escalation group than for the non-de-escalation group. In the subgroup analysis, de-escalation for blood culture-positive patients was beneficial in terms of the length of hospital stay and length of antibiotic administration.

The findings of this study suggest that sepsis treatment de-escalation is beneficial for treatment efficacy and appropriate use of antibiotics. This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see "For Readers") may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue's contents page.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences


Hydrocortisone administration was associated with improved survival in Japanese patients with cardiac arrest.

There are few reports on hydrocortisone administration after cardiac arrest, and those that have been published included few subjects. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of hydrocortisone administration on the outcomes of patients who experienced cardiac arrest. We investigated the survival discharge rates and the length of hospital stay from cardiac arrest to discharge, stratified by use of hydrocortisone, using a Japanese health-insurance claims dataset that covers approximately 2% of the Japanese population. The study included the data of 2233 subjects who experienced either in-hospital or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between January 2005 and May 2014. These patients were divided into two groups, based on the administration of hydrocortisone. We adjusted the baseline characteristics, medical treatment, and drug administration data of the two groups using propensity scores obtained via the inverse probability of treatment weighted method. The hydrocortisone group had a significantly higher survival discharge rate (13/61 [21.1%] vs. 240/2172 [11.0%], adjusted odds ratio: 4.2, 95% CI: 1.60-10.98, p = 0.004). In addition, the administration of hydrocortisone was independent predictor of survival to discharge (hazard ratio: 4.6, p < 0.001). The results demonstrate a correlation between hydrocortisone administration and the high rates of survival to discharge.


Meta-analysis of the efficacies of amiodarone and nifekalant in shock-resistant ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia.

Amiodarone (AMD) and nifekalant (NIF) are used in the treatment of ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia; however, only few studies have been conducted on their efficacies. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted. Relevant sources were identified from PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi. The outcomes were short-term and long-term survival in patients with shock-resistant ventricular fibrillation /pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Thirty-three studies were analysed. The results showed that, compared to the control treatment, AMD did not improve short-term survival (odds ratio (OR): 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.91-1.71) or long-term survival (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.63-1.57). However, compared to the control treatment, NIF significantly improved short-term survival (OR: 3.23, 95% CI: 2.21-4.72) and long-term survival (OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.36-2.59). No significant difference was observed in short-term survival (OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.63-1.15) or long-term survival (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 0.67-2.31) between AMD- and NIF-treated patients. The results suggest that NIF is beneficial for short-term and long-term survival in shock-resistant ventricular fibrillation/pulseless ventricular tachycardia; however, the efficacy of AMD in either outcome is not clear.


Dietary iron restriction alleviates renal tubulointerstitial injury induced by protein overload in mice

Increased proteinuria causes tubulointerstitial injury due to inflammation in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Iron restriction exhibits protective effects against renal dysfunction; however, its effects against protein overload-induced tubulointerstitial damage remain unclear. Here, we investigated dietary iron restriction effect on tubulointerstitial damage in mice with protein-overload tubulointerstitial injury. Renal tubulointerstitial injury in animal model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of an overdose of bovine serum albumin (BSA). We divided mice into three groups: normal saline + normal diet (ND), BSA + ND, and BSA + iron-restricted diet (IRD). BSA overload induced renal tubulointerstitial injury in the ND mice, which was ameliorated in the IRD mice. Inflammatory cytokines and extracellular matrix mRNA expression was upregulated in BSA + ND mice kidneys and was inhibited by IRD. BSA-induced increase in renal superoxide production, NADPH oxidase activity, and p22(phox) expression was diminished in the IRD mice. IRD suppression increased BSA-induced renal macrophage infiltration. Moreover, BSA mice exhibited nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein (NLRP) inflammasome activation, which was inhibited by IRD. Ferrous iron increased in kidneys with BSA overload and was inhibited by IRD. Thus, iron restriction inhibited oxidative stress and inflammatory changes, contributing to the protective effect against BSA overload-induced tubulointerstitial injury.


Kamishoyosan and Shakuyakukanzoto promote recovery from paclitaxel-induced neurite retraction in PC12 cells

In chemotherapy, the full round of treatment must be completed as scheduled to achieve the strongest therapeutic effect. However, peripheral neuropathy, a severe side effect of the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel, can force the premature discontinuation of treatment. As some kampo practitioners have suggested that it may be possible to counteract such side effects, we analyzed the effects of Kamishoyosan, Shakuyakukanzoto, and Goshajinkigan in an in vitro model of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy. Paclitaxel-treated PC12 cells were assessed for neurite length and performed Western blot analysis for growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) and light neurofilament protein (NF-L) levels in the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF); they were re-assessed, with additional testing for acetylcholinesterase levels, after application of one of the kampo. We also compared phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk)1/2 and Akt via Western blot analysis. About effect of kampo to anticancer efficacy, we confirmed cell cytotoxicity in A549 cells using MTT assay. Addition of Kamishoyosan or Shakuyakukanzoto, but not Goshajinkigan, significantly improved neurite length and GAP-43 and NF-L levels from paclitaxel-treated PC12 cells, relative to those of only NGF-treated PC12 cells. The promoting effect of Kamishoyosan and Shakuyakukanzoto in neurite outgrowth is confirmed when NGF promoted neurite outgrowth, and it was inhibited partially when Erk1/2 and Akt were blocked by Erk1/2 inhibitor or Akt inhibitor alone. Furthermore, neurite outgrowth induced by TJ24 and TJ68 was inhibited more strongly when Erk1/2 inhibitor and Akt inhibitor were treated at the same time. NGF with Kamishoyosan or Shakuyakukanzoto promoted the proportion of phosphorylated Erk1/2 and phosphorylated Akt compare with NGF only. On the other hand, Kamishoyosan or Shakuyakukanzoto didn't influence cytotoxicity of paclitaxel in A549 cells. Kamishoyosan or Shakuyakukanzoto promotes neurite outgrowth with NGF via increasing the proportion of phosphorylated Erk1/2 and phosphorylated Akt in PC12 cells. The effect applies to recovery from paclitaxel-induced axonal involvement and might promote recovery from paclitaxel-induced neuropathy without influence of anticancer effect of paclitaxel.

Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences


Evaluation of factors associated with the achievement of an optimal teicoplanin trough concentration .

These results suggested that patients with decreased renal function (eGFR.

Approximately 32% (31/97) of patients achieved the trough concentration target (≥ 15 µg/mL) on the 3rd or 4th day. Multivariate analysis showed that loading doses and body surface area (BSA) were associated with trough concentration > 15 µg/mL on the 3rd or 4th day. Moreover, patients treated with the 2-day loading dose (1,600 mg group: 800 mg/day on 2 days) promptly achieved a trough concentration > 15 µg/mL on the 3rd or 4th day compared with those receiving a 1-day loading dose (1,200 mg group: 800 mg/day on only 1 day). The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the optimal cut-off point of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 56 mL/min with 1-day loading dose to achieve a trough concentration target > 15 µg/mL.

International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics


Iron suppresses erythropoietin expression via oxidative stress-dependent hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha inactivation

Renal anemia is a major complication in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Iron supplementation, as well as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, are widely used for treatment of renal anemia. However, excess iron causes oxidative stress via the Fenton reaction, and iron supplementation might damage remnant renal function including erythropoietin (EPO) production in CKD. EPO gene expression was suppressed in mice following direct iron treatment. Hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α), a positive regulator of the EPO gene, was also diminished in the kidney of mice following iron treatment. Anemia-induced increase in renal EPO and HIF-2α expression was inhibited by iron treatment. In in vitro experiments using EPO-producing HepG2 cells, iron stimulation reduced the expression of the EPO gene, as well as HIF-2α. Moreover, iron treatment augmented oxidative stress, and iron-induced reduction of EPO and HIF-2α expression was restored by tempol, an antioxidant compound. HIF-2α interaction with the Epo promoter was inhibited by iron treatment, and was restored by tempol. These findings suggested that iron supplementation reduced EPO gene expression via an oxidative stress-HIF-2α-dependent signaling pathway.

Laboratory Investigation; a Journal of Technical Methods and Pathology


Topical Application of Nitrosonifedipine, a Novel Radical Scavenger, Ameliorates Ischemic Skin Flap Necrosis in a Mouse Model.

Ischemic skin flap necrosis can occur in random pattern flaps. An excess amount of reactive oxygen species is generated and causes necrosis in the ischemic tissue. Nitrosonifedipine (NO-NIF) has been demonstrated to possess potent radical scavenging ability. However, there has been no study on the effects of NO-NIF on ischemic skin flap necrosis. Therefore, they evaluated the potential of NO-NIF in ameliorating ischemic skin flap necrosis in a mouse model. A random pattern skin flap (1.0 × 3.0 cm) was elevated on the dorsum of C57BL/6 mice. NO-NIF was administered by topical injection immediately after surgery and every 24 hours thereafter. Flap survival was evaluated on postoperative day 7. Tissue samples from the skin flaps were harvested on postoperative days 1 and 3 to analyze oxidative stress, apoptosis and endothelial dysfunction. The viable area of the flap in the NO-NIF group was significantly increased (78.30 ± 7.041%) compared with that of the control group (47.77 ± 6.549%, p < 0.01). NO-NIF reduced oxidative stress, apoptosis and endothelial dysfunction, which were evidenced by the decrease of malondialdehyde, p22phox protein expression, number of apoptotic cells, phosphorylated p38 MAPK protein expression, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 protein expression while endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein expression was increased. In conclusion, they demonstrated that NO-NIF ameliorated ischemic skin flap necrosis by reducing oxidative stress, apoptosis, and endothelial dysfunction. NO-NIF is considered to be a candidate for the treatment of ischemic flap necrosis.


Psychiatric patients with antipsychotic drug-induced hyperprolactinemia and menstruation disorders

Treatment with antipsychotic drugs has been associated with hyperprolactinemia. The same antipsychotic drugs have also been associated with side effects such as menstruation disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hyperprolactinemia and menstruation disorders in women undergoing antipsychotic treatment. We performed a retrospective chart review study of psychiatric patients who underwent laboratory testing for serum prolactin (PRL) level between March 2011 and March 2015 in Ehime University Hospital. Patients presenting with and without menstruation disorders were evaluated to determine if they presented concomitant hyperprolactinemia. Patients with menstrual disorders had a significant increase in serum PRL level with a mean of approximately 90 ng/mL. Those with menstrual disorders presented increased PRL levels by 2-fold that of patients without menstrual disorder. However, there was no significant difference in the equivalent dose of chlorpromazine between these two groups. Additionally, about 70% of patients with menstrual disorders received risperidone treatment. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the optimal cutoff point of serum PRL level associated with the development of menstrual disorders was 60 ng/mL. Based on these results, we concluded that patients with menstrual disorders presented increased serum PRL, and that most of them underwent treatment with risperidone.


Evaluation of pharmaceutical lifesaving skills training oriented pharmaceutical intervention.

Our high-performance patient simulator-based lifesaving skills training program not only increased the participants' understanding of the training content but also increased their confidence in their ability to perform pharmaceutical interventions. Therefore, the pharmaceutical lifesaving skills training program we developed will contribute to the education of emergency care pharmacists who can perform pharmaceutical interventions for emergency patients.


Iron-induced skeletal muscle atrophy involves an Akt-forkhead box O3-E3 ubiquitin ligase-dependent pathway

Skeletal muscle wasting or sarcopenia is a critical health problem. Skeletal muscle atrophy is induced by an excess of iron, which is an essential trace metal for all living organisms. Excessive amounts of iron catalyze the formation of highly toxic hydroxyl radicals via the Fenton reaction. However, the molecular mechanism of iron-induced skeletal muscle atrophy has remained unclear. In this study, 8-weeks-old C57BL6/J mice were divided into 2 groups: vehicle-treated group and the iron-injected group (10 mg iron·day-1·mouse-1) during 2 weeks. Mice in the iron-injected group showed an increase in the iron content of the skeletal muscle and serum and ferritin levels in the muscle, along with reduced skeletal muscle mass. The skeletal muscle showed elevated mRNA expression of the muscle atrophy-related E3 ubiquitin ligases, atrogin-1 and muscle ring finger-1(MuRF1), on days 7 and 14 of iron treatment. Moreover, iron-treated mice showed reduced phosphorylation of Akt and forkhead box O3 (FOXO3a) in skeletal muscles. Inhibition of FOXO3a using siRNA in vitro in C2C12 myotube cells inhibited iron-induced upregulation of atrogin-1 and MuRF1 and reversed the reduction in myotube diameters. Iron-load caused oxidative stress, and an oxidative stress inhibitor abrogated iron-induced muscle atrophy by reactivating the Akt-FOXO3 pathway. Iron-induced skeletal muscle atrophy is suggested to involve the E3 ubiquitin ligase mediated by the reduction of Akt-FOXO3a signaling by oxidative stress.

Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology


Evaluation of the risk factors associated with high-dose chemotherapyinduced dysgeusia in patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Possible usefulness of cryotherapy in dysgeusia prevention

Dysgeusia is one of the sporadic adverse effects induced by chemotherapy, but it remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to retrospectively identify the risk factors related with dysgeusia in patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). Forty-eight patients with myeloma or lymphoma undergoing AHSCT were enrolled in this study. Data regarding dysgeusia and symptoms were collected by interviews conducted by medical workers. Patient characteristics and unfavorable effects induced by dysgeusia were obtained from medical records and analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors related with dysgeusia. Of the 48 patients, 20 (42 %) had dysgeusia after AHSCT. The total period of parenteral nutrition (TPN) administration and period of decreased oral intake in the dysgeusia group were statistically longer than those in the non-dysgeusia group. Multivariate analyses revealed that oral mucositis (odds ratio: 30.3; p < 0.01) and the type of chemotherapy prior to AHSCT (odds ratio: 6.56; p < 0.05) were independent risk factors, while oral cryotherapy was the independent suppressive factor of dysgeusia (odds ratio: 0.14; p < 0.05). Our study showed that dysgeusia after AHSCT led to the decrease in oral intake and extended the TPN administration period. Moreover, MEAM or LEED chemotherapy and oral mucositis were independent risk factors for dysgeusia in patients undergoing AHSCT, while oral cryotherapy was an independent suppressive factor for dysgeusia. Therefore, oral cryotherapy should be implemented into the regimen of supportive care management in patients undergoing AHSCT.


Clinical evaluation of pharmacist interventions in patients treated with anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus agents in a hematological ward

The therapeutic effects of anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) agents, vancomycin (VCM), teicoplanin (TEIC), and arbekacin (ABK), depend on their concentrations in blood. Therefore, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is important when these antibiotics are used. In the hematological ward at Tokushima University Hospital, pharmacists have ordered the measurement of blood VCM, TEIC, and ABK concentrations to promote the use of TDM in accordance with an agreed protocol since 2013. Moreover, the infection control team includes several medical disciplines and has advised on the optimal treatment using VCM, TEIC, and ABK since 2013. This study aimed to investigate the clinical effectiveness of these pharmacist interventions. We retrospectively studied 145 cases in which patients were treated with VCM, TEIC, or ABK between January 2012 and December 2013 in the hematological ward at Tokushima University Hospital. The patients were divided into a control group (71 cases) and an intervention group (74 cases), and their clinical outcomes were compared. The rate of achievement of effective drug concentrations significantly increased in the intervention group (74%), compared to the rate in the control group (55%). Moreover, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression revealed that pharmacist intervention and appropriate concentrations of anti-MRSA agents were independent factors associated with reduced hospitalization periods in patients with lymphoma. Our study revealed that proactive pharmacist intervention may improve the therapeutic effect of anti-MRSA agents in hematology ward patients.


Ifosfamide and etoposide chemotherapy may interact with warfarin, enhancing the warfarin-induced anticoagulant response

To report a case of warfarin-response enhancement during administration of ifosfamide and etoposide chemotherapy. A 15-yearold boy with rhabdomyosarcoma was treated with a regimen of alternating cycles of vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (VDC) chemotherapy and ifosfamide and etoposide (IE) chemotherapy. During VDC chemotherapy, occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery occurred, and warfarin was started. On day 3 of IE chemotherapy, the patient's international normalized ratio (INR) transiently increased from baseline 2.61 to 5.45. The INR returned to normal within 3 days after warfarin discontinuation. An increase in INR was observed between days 1 and 3 of subsequent cycles of IE chemotherapy but not during VDC chemotherapy. This INR increase was also observed during concomitant use of aprepitant, an inducer of the CYP2C9. There are no reports describing the interaction between warfarin and IE chemotherapy because coadministration of warfarin and IE chemotherapy is unusual. The Drug Interaction Probability Scale score of this interaction was 7, and it is probable that the enhancement of the warfarin response was caused by an interaction with IE chemotherapy. Moreover, in the present case, the enhancement of warfarin response was observed during concomitant use of aprepitant, which has been reported to weaken the warfarin response. Therefore, this interaction may be quite powerful and may increase the risk of warfarin toxicity. A patient who was administered both warfarin and IE chemotherapy experienced a rapid increase in INR, suggesting that INR should be closely monitored in patients receiving warfarin with IE chemotherapy.

International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics


Ephedra protects vascular endothelium cells from vinorelbine-induced cytotoxicity by preserving endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity


Pemetrexed-induced rash may be prevented by supplementary corticosteroids

Pemetrexed, a chemotherapeutic drug, is highly active in non-small cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma. Unfortunately, rashes are more commonly associated with pemetrexed than other chemotherapies, and it is recommended that patients receive corticosteroids (8 mg/d of dexamethasone) for 3 d, including the day of pemetrexed administration (day 1). However, the efficacy of corticosteroids in this context has not been fully verified. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the medical records of 78 patients who received pemetrexed between April 2009 and March 2014, to confirm whether supplementary corticosteroids prevented rash development. The incidence of rash was lower in the 47 patients who received supplementary corticosteroids (after day 1) compared with the incidence among the 31 patients who did not receive supplementary corticosteroids (19.1% vs. 38.7%). The average cutoff dosage of supplementary corticosteroids on day 2 and day 3 was 1.5 mg/d of dexamethasone, as calculated using the receiver operating characteristic curve, and the odds ratio was 0.33 (95% confidence interval: 0.12-0.94). Administration of ≥1.5 mg of corticosteroids on day 2 and day 3 significantly reduced the severity of the rash compared to no supplementary treatment (grades 2/3, 13.3% vs. 33.3%, p<0.05). However, increasing the dose of corticosteroids had no additional effect on rash development. These results suggest that ≥1.5 mg of supplementary dexamethasone on day 2 and day 3 (in addition to day 1) may be necessary for preventing pemetrexed-induced rash, but high doses of dexamethasone (e.g., 8 mg/d) are unnecessary.


Japanese Physicians' Views on Drug Post-Marketing Surveillance.

Registration trials leading to the approval of drugs are paramount in drug development. After approval, continuous efforts are necessary to ensure proper use of the approved drugs. In Japan, post-marketing surveillance (PMS) by drug companies is conducted in accordance with good post-marketing study practice (GPSP). Although the global standard for pharmacovigilance is incorporated into GPSP, attention has recently been focused on disassociating them. In this study, we examined physicians' views on PMS with the aim of conducting PMS more effectively. We retrospectively reviewed records between 2009 and 2013 from the institutional review board of Tokushima University Hospital, an academic hospital in rural Japan. The annual number of times PMS was performed was then determined. Next, we assessed physicians' attitudes toward drug PMS, including ethical issues, in a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire designed for this study. Five- and two-point scales were used. The questionnaire was distributed in 2014 to 221 physicians listed as investigators in PMS contracts. Of the 221 physicians, 103 (46.6%) responded to the questionnaire. About 50% of the respondents had experience writing PMS reports. Many of the physicians considered PMS to be important but burdensome. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of research ethics, many physicians considered it improper within the present PMS framework to collect and provide data beyond the scope of routine clinical practice without obtaining informed consent in the case of extra blood sampling, provision of images, monitoring and controlled studies. Beyond practical factors such as workload, attention should be given to establishing an ethical infrastructure and globally harmonized system with regard to the Japanese PMS system. Given the limitations of this single-institution study, further research is needed to collect information for developing a suitable infrastructure.