Internal medicine
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study Observational Study
The Comparison of the Efficacy of Baloxavir and Neuraminidase Inhibitors for Patients with Influenza A in Clinical Practice.
Objective Baloxavir marboxil is a novel anti-influenza drug reported to have an early antiviral effect, although it also causes the appearance of variant viruses with a reduced susceptibility to baloxavir. In Japan, four neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) have been commonly used to treat patients with influenza. In clinical practice, the differences in the effects of baloxavir and NAIs have not been sufficiently examined. ⋯ A multivariate analysis showed that treatment with baloxavir and a duration from the onset to the start of treatment ≥2.5 days were factors contributing to the early alleviation of the fever from the start of treatment. The duration of the fever was significantly shorter in the baloxavir group than in the NAI group (p=0.002). Conclusion The present survey showed that baloxavir was significantly more effective than NAIs for treating patients with influenza A in clinical practice.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Beneficial Effects of Ipragliflozin on the Renal Function and Serum Uric Acid Levels in Japanese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, 12-week, Open-label, Active-controlled Trial.
Objective To examine the add-on effects, compared to the existing antidiabetes treatment, of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor ipragliflozin on glycemic control and the risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes. Methods This 12-week, randomized, open-label, active-controlled trial included 30 patients with type 2 diabetes who were randomized 1:1 to ipragliflozin and control groups (n=15 each). The ipragliflozin group received 50 mg of ipragliflozin once daily in addition to conventional therapy. ⋯ Furthermore, ipragliflozin add-on therapy resulted in a greater reduction in serum UA levels than control therapy [Δ=-52.3 (95% CI: -85.5-19.1) μmol/L, p=0.003]. The changes in the eGFR with ipragliflozin treatment were associated with ipragliflozin-mediated changes in the UA, even after adjusting for the age, sex, baseline HbA1c, baseline UA, and baseline eGFR (standardized regression coefficient=-0.535, p=0.010). Conclusion Ipragliflozin add-on therapy was associated with beneficial renal effects in parallel with reducing serum UA levels.
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Review Case Reports
Myocarditis with Advanced Atrioventricular Block after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Case Report and Literature Review.
A 51-year-old woman with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia underwent a second cord blood transplantation followed by maintenance therapy with interferon-α. After 33 months, she developed cardiogenic shock caused by advanced atrioventricular block. ⋯ Myocarditis after allogeneic stem cell transplantation is a rare but potentially fatal complication. However, it is important for physicians to be aware of this complication because all of the symptoms may be reversed with immunosuppressive treatment.
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It has become clear that sodium glucose cotransporter (SGLT)-2 inhibitors not only do not increase the incidence of cardiovascular events but they also reduce the duration of hospitalization for heart failure in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. The administration of SGLT2 inhibitor in T2DM patients with hypertension and a fluid retention tendency lowers the blood pressure and mitigates fluid retention. It also reduces the heart rate in T2DM patients with a fast heart rate. As an explanation for the multifaceted effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on hemodynamics, we hypothesize that these agents act on the inter-organ communication pathway, which modulates the sympathetic nerve activity to the cardiovascular system.
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Various methods of rehabilitation for dysphagia have been suggested through the experience of treating stroke patients. Although most of these patients recover their swallowing function in a short period, dysphagia in Parkinson's disease (PD) and Parkinson-related disorder (PRD) degenerates with disease progression. Muscle rigidity and bradykinesia are recognized as causes of swallowing dysfunction, and it is difficult to easily apply the strategies for stroke to the rehabilitation of dysphagia in PD patients. ⋯ Severe PD patients need routine video fluoroscopy or video endoscopy to adjust their food and liquid consistency. Patients with PRD experience rapid progression of swallowing dysfunction. Nutrition combined with nasogastric tube feeding or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding should be considered owing to the increased risk of aspiration and difficulty administrating oral nutrition.