The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · May 2020
Protease Inhibitors: Candidate Drugs to Inhibit Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Replication.
The number of patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly increased, although the WHO declared a pandemic. However, drugs that function against SARS-CoV-2 have not been established. SARS-CoV-2 has been suggested to bind angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the receptor of the SARS coronavirus. ⋯ The additive effects of interferons on the inhibitory effects of other candidate drugs to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as lopinavir, ritonavir and favipiravir, have also been studied. These findings suggest that protease inhibitors of this type may inhibit coronavirus 229E replication in human airway epithelial cells at clinical concentrations. Protease inhibitors, interferons or the combination of these drugs may become candidate drugs to inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · May 2020
Observational StudySubcutaneous Tocilizumab Is Effective for Treatment of Elderly-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by systemic articular and bone manifestations and its pathogenesis is driven by a complex network of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor and interleukin (IL)-6. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been standardized by the introduction of a treat-to-target approach. Subcutaneous tocilizumab (TCZ-SC) is a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, and is widely used for refractory RA patients in the clinical settings. ⋯ The cessation cases of adverse events were two in each group. In conclusion, TCZ-SC showed good clinical effectiveness and safety in EORA patients. TCZ-SC is a useful agent for patients with EORA.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · May 2020
Differences in the Magnitude of Motor Skill Acquisition and Interlimb Transfer between Left- and Right-Handed Subjects after Short-Term Unilateral Motor Skill Practice.
Motor skill practice improves performance not only in the trained - but also in the untrained contralateral limb - a phenomenon called as interlimb transfer. Handedness affects motor skill acquisition and interlimb transfer, but it remains unknown whether handedness affects interlimb transfer when practicing with the dominant or non-dominant limb. We have hypothesized that interlimb transfer of skill acquisition differs between left- and right-handed participants, and that right- as compared with left-hand motor skill practice shows greater interlimb transfer, regardless of handedness. ⋯ These data suggest greater interlimb transfer after right-hand motor skill practice, but no interlimb transfer after left-hand practice. On the other hand, our results show consistent interlimb transfer effects in left-handed subjects, irrespective of whether the dominant left or the non-dominant right arm has been initially trained. In conclusion, our results add to the body of literature by detecting the differences in the magnitude of motor skill acquisition and interlimb transfer between left- and right-handed subjects after short-term unilateral motor skill practice.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · May 2020
COVID-19 Waves: Importance of Accumulative Mortality per Million Inhabitants.
The reported number of new cases underestimates the real spread of COVID-19 pandemic because of non-tested asymptomatic people and limited global access to reliable diagnostic tests. In this context, COVID-19 mortality with confirmed diagnosis becomes an attractive source of information to be included in the analysis of perspectives and proposals. Objective data are required to calculate the capacity of resources provided by health systems. ⋯ The health services struggle to keep the plateau in a steady-state below 100 deaths per million inhabitants. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the alternatives and supplies based on the current and near-future expected demands imposed by the number of deaths by COVID-19. Estimating COVID-19 mortality in various scenarios with the gradual release of social constraints will help predict the magnitude of those arriving waves.
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Tohoku J. Exp. Med. · May 2020
Preceding Poor Physical Function Is Associated with New-Onset Musculoskeletal Pain among Older Natural Disaster Survivors: A Longitudinal Study after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Musculoskeletal pain is a major problem among survivors of natural disasters. Functional disabilities in older adults increase after disasters and can lead to musculoskeletal pain. However, the effects of poor physical function on musculoskeletal pain after natural disasters remain unclear. ⋯ Compared with high physical function, the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for new-onset musculoskeletal pain was 2.25 (1.37-3.69) in poor physical function (P = 0.001). Preceding poor physical function was associated with new-onset musculoskeletal pain among older survivors after the GEJE. There is need to focus on the maintenance of physical function to prevent musculoskeletal pain after natural disasters.