Effect of porphyrin ligands on the catalytic CH4 oxidation activity of monocationic µ-nitrido-bridged iron porphyrinoid dimers by using H2O2 as an oxidant.

The µ-nitrido-bridged iron phthalocyanine homodimer is a potent molecule-based CH4 oxidation catalyst that can effectively oxidize chemically stable CH4 under mild reaction conditions in an acidic aqueous solution including an oxidant such as H2O2. The reactive intermediate is a high-valent iron-oxo species generated upon reaction with H2O2. However, a detailed comparison of the CH4 oxidation activity of the µ-nitrido-bridged iron phthalocyanine dimer with those of µ-nitrido-bridged iron porphyrinoid dimers containing one or two porphyrin ring(s) has not been yet reported, although porphyrins are the most important class of porphyrinoids. Herein, we compare the catalytic CH4 and CH3CH3 oxidation activities of a monocationic µ-nitrido-bridged iron porphyrin homodimer and a monocationic µ-nitrido-bridged heterodimer of an iron porphyrin and an iron phthalocyanine with those of a monocationic µ-nitrido-bridged iron phthalocyanine homodimer in an acidic aqueous solution containing H2O2 as an oxidant. It was demonstrated that the CH4 oxidation activities of monocationic µ-nitrido-bridged iron porphyrinoid dimers containing porphyrin ring(s) were much lower than that of a monocationic µ-nitrido-bridged iron phthalocyanine homodimer. These findings suggested that the difference in the electronic structure of the porphyrinoid rings of monocationic µ-nitrido-bridged iron porphyrinoid dimers strongly affected their catalytic light alkane oxidation activities.

MCAM+CD161- Th17 Subset Expressing CD83 Enhances Tc17 Response in Psoriasis.

Recent studies have highlighted the pathogenic roles of IL-17-producing CD8+ T cells (T-cytotoxic 17 [Tc17]) in psoriasis. However, the underlying mechanisms of Tc17 induction remain unclear. In this study, we focused on the pathogenic subsets of Th17 and their mechanism of promotion of Tc17 responses. We determined that the pathogenic Th17-enriched fraction expressed melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) and CCR6, but not CD161, because this subset produced IL-17A abundantly and the presence of these cells in the peripheral blood of patients has been correlated with the severity of psoriasis. Intriguingly, the serial analysis of gene expression revealed that CCR6+MCAM+CD161-CD4+ T cells displayed the gene profile for adaptive immune responses, including CD83, which is an activator for CD8+ T cells. Coculture assay with or without intercellular contact between CD4+ and CD8+ T cells showed that CCR6+MCAM+CD161-CD4+ T cells induced the proliferation of CD8+ T cells in a CD83-dependent manner. However, the production of IL-17A by CD8+ T cells required exogenous IL-17A, suggesting that intercellular contact via CD83 and the production of IL-17A from activated CD4+ T cells elicit Tc17 responses. Intriguingly, the CD83 expression was enhanced in the presence of IL-15, and CD83+ cells stimulated with IL-1ß, IL-23, IL-15, and IL-15Rα did not express FOXP3. Furthermore, CCR6+MCAM+CD161-CD4+ T cells expressing CD83 were increased in the peripheral blood of patients, and the CD83+ Th17-type cells accumulated in the lesional skin of psoriasis. In conclusion, pathogenic MCAM+CD161- Th17 cells may be involved in the Tc17 responses via IL-17A and CD83 in psoriasis.

Tumor doubling time as preoperative predictor of malignancy and recurrence in newly diagnosed meningioma.

Most meningiomas are benign, and the indications for surgery are determined by size and symptoms, but some are malignant and have a high recurrence rate. Currently, no preoperative prognostic factors have been established. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether tumor doubling time (Td) is useful in predicting tumor prognosis. Patients who underwent surgery for newly diagnosed meningioma at our hospital between 2007 and 2021 with preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging evaluation over a period of 6 months were included in this study. We calculated the Td from the preoperative MR images and examined the correlation between Td and WHO grade, MIB-1 SI, and other conditions. A total of 269 newly diagnosed meningiomas were operated on during the study period, of which 62 met inclusion criteria. The median Td was 1082 days (54-8579 days), and MIB-1 SI was 2.45% (0.7-14.6%). Td and MIB-1 SI had a negative correlation (r = - 0.319, p = 0.0122). MIB-1 SI was higher in patients with Td < 3 years than in those with Td ≥ 3 (p = 0.005), and the incidence of high WHO grade (grade2) was higher in patients with Td < 1 year than in patients with Td ≥ 1 (p = 0.014). Meningiomas with Td < 3 years had significantly higher MIB-1 SI, and tumors with Td < 1 year had a higher likelihood of malignancy. Therefore, early treatment should be considered in patients with short Td meningioma even if asymptomatic, and further consideration could be given to radical resection at the time of surgery.

Branched chain amino acids in the treatment of polymyositis and dermatomyositis: a phase II/III, multi-centre, randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and safety of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) in the treatment of PM/DM prior to official approval of their use in Japan. METHODS: Treatment naïve adults with PM/DM were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind trial to receive either TK-98 (drug name of BCAAs) or placebo in addition to conventional treatment. After 12 weeks, patients with an average manual muscle test (MMT) score <9.5 were enrolled in an open label extension study for a further 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change of the MMT score at 12 weeks. The secondary endpoints were the clinical response and the change of functional index (FI). RESULTS: Forty-seven patients were randomized either to the TK-98 (n = 24) or placebo (n = 23) group. The changes of MMT scores at 12 weeks were 0.70 (0.19) [mean (s.e.m.)] and 0.69 (0.18), respectively (P = 0.98). Thirteen patients from the TK-98 group and 12 from the placebo group were enrolled in the extension study. The MMT scores in both groups improved similarly. The increase of the FI scores of the shoulder flexion at 12 weeks was significantly greater in the TK-98 group [27.9 (5.67) vs 12.8 (5.67) for the right shoulder flexion, and 27.0 (5.44) vs 13.4 (5.95) for the left shoulder; P < 0.05]. Frequencies of adverse events up to 12 weeks were similar. CONCLUSION: BCAAs showed no effect on the improvement of the muscle strength evaluated by MMT and the clinical response. However, they were partly effective for improving dynamic repetitive muscle functions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN-CTR Clinical Trial, https://center6.umin.ac.jp/, UMIN000016233.

Synthesis of a monocationic µ-nitrido-bridged iron porphycene dimer and its methane oxidation activity.

Herein, we report the synthesis of a monocationic µ-nitrido-bridged iron porphycene dimer, a structural analogue of a monocationic µ-nitrido-bridged iron phthalocyanine dimer, which is known to be one of the most potent molecule-based catalysts for methane oxidation. 1H-NMR and single-crystal X-ray structural analyses showed that the porphycene complex includes two Fe(IV) ions, and the structure around the Fe-NFe core is quite similar to that of the monocationic µ-nitrido-bridged iron phthalocyanine dimer. Although methane was oxidized into MeOH, HCHO, and HCOOH in the presence of a silica-supported catalyst of this monocationic µ-nitrido-bridged iron porphycene dimer in an acidic aqueous solution containing excess H2O2, its reactive intermediate was not a high-valence iron-oxo species, as in the case of a monocationic µ-nitrido-bridged iron phthalocyanine dimer, but ˙OH. It is suggested that the high-valent iron-oxo species of the µ-nitrido-bridged iron porphycene dimer was gradually decomposed under these reaction conditions, and the decomposed compound catalyzed a Fenton-type reaction. This result indicates that the stability of the oxo-species is indispensable for achieving high catalytic methane oxidation activity using a µ-nitrido-bridged iron porphyrinoid dimer with an Fe-NFe core as a catalyst.

Scoring Model to Predict a Low Disease Activity in Elderly Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Initially Treated with Biological Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs.

Objective We aimed to develop a scoring model to predict a low disease activity (LDA) in elderly rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients initially treated with biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). Methods This retrospective cohort study included 82 elderly RA patients who initially received bDMARDs. The outcome was an LDA after bDMARDs initiation. We developed a predictive formula for an LDA using a multivariate analysis, the accuracy of which was assessed by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curves; the scoring model was developed using the formula. For each factor, approximate odds ratios were scored as an integer, divided into three groups based on the distribution of these scores. In addition, the scoring model accuracy was assessed. Results The mean age was 73.5±6.0 years old, and 86.6% were women. An LDA was achieved in 43 patients (52.4%). The predictive formula for an LDA was prepared using six factors selected for the multivariable analysis: the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), anemia, the 28-joint disease activity score with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), serum level of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), diabetes mellitus (DM), and rheumatoid factor (RF). The AUC for the formula was 0.829 (95% confidence interval, 0.729-0.930). The odds ratios of the six factors were scored (DAS28-ESR and serum MMP-3=1 point, NLR, anemia, DM, and RF=2 points) and divided into three groups (≤4, 5-7, and ≥8). The high-score group (≥8) achieved a positive predictive value of 83%. Conclusion The scoring model accurately predicted an LDA in elderly RA patients initially treated with bDMARDs.

Factors predicting addition of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs after initial methotrexate monotherapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

INTRODUCTION: We investigated factors predicting the addition of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) after an initial methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to support an early decision on the DMARDs addition. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 311 patients who were diagnosed with RA and started on MTX monotherapy at Showa University Hospital, Japan. The outcome was addition of DMARDs after an initial MTX monotherapy at 6 months. Baseline patient characteristics were compared between the DMARDs addition and MTX monotherapy continuation groups, and significant independent predictive factors for the addition of DMARDs were selected using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 62 years (range 24-90), 170 patients (73%) were women, the median swollen 28-joint count (SJC28) was 3 (0-28), and the median tender 28-joint count (TJC28) was 5 (0-28). DMARDs were added in 65 (27.9%) patients. In the univariate analysis, higher TJC28 and SJC28, concomitant use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and intra-articular glucocorticoid (GC) injection history were significantly associated with the DMARDs addition. In the multivariate analysis, by adding covariates to the variables identified in the univariate analysis, SJC28 (odds ratio [OR] 1.390 per 5 joints increase; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.036-1.866) and intra-articular GC injection history (OR 3.678; 95% CI, 1.170-11.557) were independent predictors of DMARDs addition. CONCLUSION: A higher SJC28 and intra-articular GC injection history may be useful predictors of DMARDs addition after the initial MTX monotherapy. We expect that using these predictors will enable an earlier shift to a more aggressive treatment. Key Points ・We performed a retrospective cohort study with the addition of DMARDs as the outcome in patients with RA who were started on MTX monotherapy. ・A higher SJC28 (OR 1.390; 95% CI, 1.036-1.866) and an intra-articular GC injection history (OR 3.678; 95% CI, 1.170-11.557) may be useful predictors for the addition of DMARDs of initiating MTX monotherapy at 6 months. ・The use of such indicators may support an early decision on the addition of DMARDs after the initial MTX monotherapy.

Anti-MDA-5 antibody-positive clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease treated with therapeutic plasma exchange: A case series.

We present six cases of antimelanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody (anti-MDA5-Ab)-positive clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD), which is known to have a poor prognosis. The outcomes of these cases are described after treatment with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). Clinical and therapeutic data for patients with CADM with RP-ILD were collected retrospectively from medical records. All six patients received early intensive care including high-dose corticosteroids, intravenous cyclophosphamide, and a calcineurin inhibitor, but lung disease and hypoxia became more severe. TPE was performed over a median of 9.5 sessions (range 3-14) per patient, and the median duration from admission to TPE was 23 days. Three patients received combined direct hemoperfusion using a polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column (PMX-DHP) therapy on successive days to manage acute respiratory failure. Four patients survived and two died due to respiratory failure. In the survival cases, ferritin decreased, and ferritin and KL-6 were lower at diagnosis. The patients who died had a higher alveolar-arterial oxygen difference and more severe lung lesions at the time of initiation of TPE. These findings indicate that a combination of conventional therapy and TPE may be useful for improvement of the prognosis of CADM with RP-ILD at the early stage of onset.

Initial Management of Patients with Suspected Stroke in the SARS-CoV-2 Era: Effects on the Door-to-Picture Time.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of a newly developed emergency room (ER) protocol to treat patients with stroke and control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 by evaluating the door-to-picture time. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 126 patients who were transported to our ER by ambulance with suspected stroke between April 15 and October 31, 2020 (study group). A risk judgment system named the COVID level was introduced to classify the risk of infection as follows: level 0, no infection; I, infection unlikely; II, possible; III, probable; and IV, definite. Patients with COVID levels 0, I, or II and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score >10 were placed in a normal ER (nER) without atmospheric pressure control; the medical staff wore standard personal protective equipment (PPE) in such cases. Patients with COVID level II, III, or IV, and a GCS score of ≤10 were assigned to the negative pressure ER (NPER); the medical staff wore enhanced PPE for these cases. The validity of the protocol was assessed. The door-to-picture time of the study group was compared with that of 114 control patients who were transported with suspected stroke during the same period in 2019 (control group). The difference in the time for CT and MRI between the two groups was also compared. In the study group, the time spent in the nER and NPER was evaluated. Results: In all, 118 patients (93.7%) were classified as level I, 6 (4.8%) as level II, and 2 (1.6%) as level III. Only five patients (4.0%) were treated with NPER. Polymerase chain reaction tests were performed on 118 out of 126 patients (93.7%) and were negative. No significant differences were observed in age, sex, neurological severity, modalities of diagnostic imaging, and diagnosis compared with the control group. The median door-to-picture time was 18 (11-27.8) min in the study group and 15 (10-25) min in the control group (p = 0.08). No delay was found on CT (15 [10-21] vs. 14 [9-21] min, p = 0.24). In contrast, there was an 8-min delay for MRI (30 [21.8-50] vs. 22 [14-30] min, p = 0.01). The median door-to-picture time was 29 min longer in patients treated with NPER than in those treated with nER, although the difference was not significant due to the small number of patients (47 [27-57] vs. 18 [11-26] min, p = 0.07). Conclusion: Our protocol could optimize the use of medical resources with only a 3-min delay in the door-to-picture time in an area without explosive outbreak. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of the protocol in preventing infection could not be verified because of the low incidence of COVID-19. When developing and modifying an institutional protocol, recognizing the outbreak status surrounding each institution is important.

The association between age and adverse events due to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A retrospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT: We examined whether the age of patients with rheumatoid arthritis was associated with adverse events (AEs) caused by biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs).Patients with rheumatoid arthritis using bDMARDs from Showa University Hospital, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, and Showa University Koto Toyosu Hospital from January 2005 to December 2017 were eligible for this retrospective cohort study. The maximum observation period was determined to be 1 year. Outcomes in patients older and younger than 75 years were compared. The primary outcome was the rate of drug discontinuation because of AEs caused by bDMARDs. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using Pearson's chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis, respectively.A total of 416 patients were enrolled; median (interquartile range [IQR]): 60.0 (44.3 - 71.0) years and 84.6% women; patients ≥ 75 years were 67/416 (16.1%). The rates of drug discontinuation because of AEs caused by bDMARDs were 10.5% (7/67) in patients 75 years and older and 10.9% (38/349) in those younger than 75 years (relative risk 0.95, 95% confidential interval 0.45-2.24). In logistic regression analysis adjusted for covariates, the rate of drug discontinuation showed no significant difference between the patients ≥ 75 years and the those < 75 years (adjusted odds ratio 0.70, 95% confidential interval 0.29-1.75, P = .45).The rate of drug discontinuation because of AEs caused by bDMARDs was not significantly different between patients 75 years and older and patients younger than 75 years.

Effects of biologic drugs on the prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis among patients with poor diabetes control.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) on diabetes control among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A total of 296 patients with RA were included in the study. The following background factors were investigated: age, gender, bDMARD type, methotrexate and prednisolone (PSL) dosages, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), C-reactive protein, and matrix metalloproteinase-3. We used the simplified disease activity index (SDAI) to evaluate the RA disease activity. Poor diabetes mellitus (DM) control was defined as a HbA1c of 6.0; accordingly, the patients were divided into good and poor DM control groups. SDAI and PSL dosage were the primary endpoints, respectively, 1 year later. RESULTS: HbA1c ranged from 6.6±0.68 to 6.5±0.82 and 5.1±0.29 to 5.4±0.34 in the poor and good DM control groups, respectively. Although the intergroup difference was significant (p=0.000), there was no significant intergroup difference during the treatment period (p=0.084). The SDAI ranged from 27.7±15.6 to 7.1±8.0 in the group with a poor DM control (n=83) and from 22.9±14.0 to 6.3±7.6 in the group with a good DM control (n=213). CONCLUSION: The bDMARD therapy reduced the RA disease activity regardless of a good or poor DM control.

Age and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biologic agents.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the relationship between age and quality of life (QOL) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after treatment with biologic agents.Methods: We recruited 153 patients with RA treated with biologic agents at three hospitals of Showa University from 2005 to 2016 for this retrospective cohort study. Patients were divided into two groups-aged 65 years and older (elderly group) and aged under 65 years (adult group). The primary outcome was the change in QOL over 6 months. We measured QOL using the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form-36 (SF-36), the physical component scale (PCS), and the mental component scale (MCS).Results: There were 94 adult patients (61.4%) and 59 elderly patients (38.5%). Adjusted for sex, disease duration, Disease Activity Score 28 erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28ESR), Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), and complications including interstitial lung disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease, there was a significant difference in PCS changes in 6 months between the groups (regression coefficients -7.25; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) -11.7 to -2.77; p = .0018). There was no significant difference in MCS.Conclusion: Elderly patients with RA may have more difficulty in achieving a satisfactory QOL after treatment with biologic agents.

Serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels in women with rheumatoid arthritis during tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor treatment: Exploratory research.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated serum anti-Müllerian hormone in women with rheumatoid arthritis newly introduced to tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor treatment for 54 weeks to investigate the treatment's effect on ovarian reserve. METHODS: A total of 12 premenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis aged 20-50 years were recruited at our division, who had been newly treated with tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor (infliximab or etanercept) from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2014. Serial serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels and disease activity scores (DAS28-CRP) were examined at defined periods: start of treatment and 14, 30, and 54 weeks after start of treatment. RESULTS: DAS28-CRP scores in 12 women were significantly decreased from a mean of 4.6 (±SD: 0.4) to 2.3 (±0.4) after 54 weeks of treatment (p < 0.001). Serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels and its z scores did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: Treatment with a tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor did not affect serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels in 12 women with rheumatoid arthritis during 54-week treatment.

Adult-onset Still's disease presenting with aseptic meningitis as the first symptom in an elderly patient.

•Neutrophilic meningitis is rarely observed in Adult onset Still's disease (AOSD).•AOSD-related meningitis has been observed in the AOSD course of young adults.•An elderly man showed neutrophilic meningitis as a first symptom of AOSD.•First-line therapy with steroid for bacterial meningitis complicated the diagnosis.•Hyperferritinemia led to the correct diagnosis of AOSD and AOSD-related meningitis.

Polymyositis-Dermatomyositis and Interstitial Lung Disease in Pregnant Woman Successfully Treated with Cyclosporine and Tapered Steroid Therapy.

Polymyositis-dermatomyositis is extremely rare during pregnancy, and immunosuppressive therapy should be administered after carefully considering the effects on both the mother and fetus. Several reports have associated the disease activity with fetal prognosis, higher rates of eclampsia, preterm births, and fetal deaths. We report our experience with a patient who was diagnosed with polymyositis-dermatomyositis complicated by interstitial lung disease during pregnancy and was treated with a combination-immunosuppressant regimen. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case wherein cyclosporine was used concomitantly with a steroid for the treatment of polymyositis diagnosed during pregnancy, with successful outcome of childbirth without any complications.

Antennae sense heat stress to inhibit mating and promote escaping in Drosophila females.

Environmental stress is a major factor that affects courtship behavior and evolutionary fitness. Although mature virgin females of Drosophila melanogaster usually accept a courting male to mate, they may not mate under stressful conditions. Above the temperature optimal for mating (20-25 °C), copulation success of D. melanogaster declines with increasing temperature although we observed vigorous courtship attempts by males, and no copulation takes place at temperatures over 36 °C. We attempted to identify the sensory pathway for detecting heat threat that drives a female to escape rather than to engage in mating that detects hot temperature and suppresses courtship behavior. We found that the artificial activation of warmth-sensitive neurons ('hot cells') in the antennal arista of females completely abrogates female copulation success even at permissive temperatures below 32 °C. Moreover, mutational loss of the GR28b.d thermoreceptor protein caused females to copulate even at 36 °C. These results indicate that antennal hot cells provide the input channel for detecting the high ambient temperature in the control of virgin female mating under stressful conditions.

A study on characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis patients achieving remission in depression with 6 months of bDMARDs treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between baseline factors and depression remission after a 6-month biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: The study was conducted in 152 RA patients treated with bDMARDs. The following patient's characteristics were studied: gender, age, disease duration, baseline prednisolone dosage, and serum matrix metalloproteinase3 (MMP3) levels. For assessment, we used the simple disease activity index (SDAI) for RA disease activity, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) for activities of daily living (ADL), Short Form-36 for nonspecific health-related quality of life (QOL), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) scores for the depression status. Depressed remission was clarified using HAM-D ≤7 after 6 months of treatment. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of depression, and a retrospective study was conducted. RESULTS: Based on binominal logistic analyses, RA patients' with depression remission (n=124) compared to those without depression remission (n=28) had a younger age (p=0.0045, odd ratio: 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]:0.8-0.98), female sex (p=0.021, odd ratio:0.21, 95% CI:0.054-0.79), and lower HAM-D scores (p=0.0073, odd ratio:0.85, 95% CI:0.76-0.96) CONCLUSION: It was proposed that RA patients who are females, younger in age, and have lower depressed scores at baseline can achieve a depression remission status with the bDMARDs treatment.

Performance of the Japanese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (J-PHQ-9) for depression in primary care.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of the Japanese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (J-PHQ-9) for depression in primary care. METHODS: Participants in both phases completed the J-PHQ-9, while patients in the second phase also completed the SF-8 (the short form for the health-related QOL scale SF-36). Subjects (n = 284; male = 107, female = 177) had to return the questionnaires to their health care professional within 48 hours and undergo a diagnostic evaluation interview based on the Japanese version of M.I.N.I-Plus. RESULTS: 93 patients were diagnosed as having major depressive disorder (MDD). In the J-PHQ-9, the optimal cutpoint ≥ 10 had sensitivity of 90.5% and specificity of 76.6%. As for the categorical algorithms, the sensitivity was 80.6%; specificity was 89.5%, and a positive likelihood ratio of 7.7. The Stratum-specific likelihood ratios (SSLRs) of the J-PHQ-9 scores of 0-9, 10-14, 15-19, and 20-27 for major depression were 0.10 (95% CI: 0.05-0.20), 1.67 (95% CI: 1.02-2.76), 5.41 (95% CI: 2.87-10.22), and 11.98 (95% CI: 5.39-26.63), respectively. The relationship between the severity of J-PHQ-9 and the MCS of SF-8 was significant (χ 2 ＝ 85.72, df = 4, P ≤ 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study has validated the J-PHQ-9 as a useful tool for the assessment of MDD in primary care in Japan.

Is the serum oxytocin level altered by treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients complicated with depression?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the factors associated with depression, including serum oxytocin (OXT) levels, disease activity, activities of daily living (ADL), and quality of life (QOL), and their effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: This study included 42 RA patients who received treatment with a biological agent. We measured the following variables before and after 6 months of treatment: baseline characteristics, including age, sex, disease duration, smoking, and body mass index (BMI); prednisolone and methotrexate dose; serum level of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3); erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR); and C-reactive protein (CRP) level. The disease activity of RA was assessed using the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI); depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D); ADL was assessed using the Health Assessment Questionnaire; and QOL was assessed using the Short Form (SF)-36. Serum OXT levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The HAM-D score significantly correlated with the SDAI, and the mental component summary (MCS) score of SF-36. However, the serum OXT levels did not correlate with the HAM-D score. Regression analysis using the HAM-D score as the objective variable identified female sex, smoking, BMI, and all the three component scores of SF-36, but not serum OXT levels, as significant factors. Comparisons between before and after treatment showed that the HAM-D score improved from 5 to 1.5; however, the serum OXT levels did not change. CONCLUSION: The variables of female sex, smoking, BMI, and QOL correlated with depression complicated with RA. However, serum OXT levels did not correlate directly.