Sapporo Medical Journal

Abstract : Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses a significant public health problem in Egypt and developing countries, accounting for the highest prevalence globally. This study aimed to measure the level of CXCL-10 and TGF-B1 in chronic HCV patients before and following treatment with direct-acting antiviral therapy (DAAs). The study included 50 subjects, divided into two groups: thirty individuals with HCV infection and twenty HCV-negative individuals who were considered to be in good health and served as the control group. We selected 30 HCV-positive patients who did not start treatment from all HCV-positive patients who attended an endemic clinic. Patients were followed up for 12 or 24 weeks after their DAA treatment. Then, based on treatment response, we classified these patients into (15 HCV-positive patients who responded to treatment) and (15 HCV-positive patients who did not respond to treatment). CXCL10 and TGFB1 were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). There was a significant positive correlation between CXCL10 and TGFB1 levels in all studied groups. Compared to responders and control groups, CXCL10 and TGFB1 levels were significantly higher in HCV patients and non-responders who did not initiate therapy. Therefore, CXCL10 and TGFB1 could be combined with HCV PCR to improve the sensitivity and specificity of treatment response detection.

Abstract : Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and nature of extracardiac incidental findings in patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) scans before transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort teleradiology study analyzed 33 patients' pre-TAVI CT scans. The study identified and categorized incidental extracardiac findings, highlighting significant findings and those of clear or potential malignancy. Results: All participants in the study had at least one incidental extracardiac finding, with a total of 115 occurrences of 43 different types being recorded. The most common findings were spinal degenerative disc disease, renal cysts, pulmonary edema, and pleural effusions. 73% of the cohort were identified as having clinically significant extracardiac findings. In terms of clearly or potentially malignant findings, these were observed in 42% of the cohort, including renal cell carcinoma, large paratracheal soft tissue mass, multinodular thyroid gland, lung nodules, and prostate enlargement. Conclusion: This study highlights the significant occurrence of extracardiac incidental findings, many of which are clearly or potentially malignant, in pre-TAVI CT scans. These findings underscore the necessity for thorough pre-procedural evaluations in TAVI candidates, as they can influence patient management and outcomes. Future research should aim for larger, multicenter, prospective studies to understand better

Abstract : Context: Hematological damage is common in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and does not result from hemolytic anemia alone. In order to report the experience of the Libreville University Hospital, we conducted a study to determine the hematological manifestations that may be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus in patients followed in Gabon. Patients and method : Retrospective descriptive study , carried out on files of lupus patients hospitalized in the internal medicine department of Libreville University Hospital for 2 years. It was included: any patient aged over 15 years, regardless of sex, hospitalized for SLE. Data analysis by Epi-info version 3.5. Results : A total of 51 lupus patient files were collected. There were 43 women and 8 men, giving a sex ratio of 0.19. The 20-29 year old age group, comprising 37.3% of the workforce, was the most representative. Lupus disease was found to be insidious in 78.4% and brutal in 21.6%. Anemia was present in 40 out of 51 patients. Anemia was severe in 18 patients with a mean hemoglobin level of 6.2g/dl, moderate in 16 patients and mild in 6 patients. It was microcytic normochrome in 50% of cases, normocytic normochrome in 22.5%. Inflammatory causes represented 37.5% of patients. Conclusion : Hematological damage remains common in lupus and must be carefully investigated. Our study showed that more than half of lupus patients had anemia and. its causes, probably multifactorial, are dominated by an inflammatory mechanism.

Abstract : The consumption of herbal beverages, such as pomegranate juice (PJ), has experienced a notable surge in recent years. The concomitant utilization of prescription medications and herbal products is prevalent, which may have implications on therapeutic outcomes and adverse effects. Numerous studies have demonstrated that different juices can alter enzymes and transporters that regulate pharmacokinetic parameters, leading to clinically significant and unpredictable effects. Despite being extensively studied for its medicinal properties and potential health benefits, the interactions of pomegranate (Punica granatum) with conventional medications are still under investigation. This fruit, which has a long history of traditional medicinal use for various therapeutic purposes, is widely consumed globally. Pomegranate comprises a diverse range of chemical constituents that include sugars, organic acids, polyphenols, fatty acids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, alkaloids, sterols, triterpenes, and vitamins. These constituents can vary based on factors like agricultural practices, geographical region, fruit ripeness, and storage conditions. The polyphenolic compounds found in pomegranate, such as tannins and flavonoids, are particularly rich and possess potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, and anticarcinogenic properties. Due to the multifaceted therapeutic properties and extensive chemical composition of pomegranate, researchers have been in

Abstract : Background: The ovarian reserve needs to be identified to diagnose and treat infertility. Methods and Material: descriptive, retrospective observational research. 230 people were included in the data from the roughly 500 patients who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted to the Sulaymaniyah Governorate's Royal Hospital (Infertility Center). The data were utilized to compare the robust regression model with the quantile regression model in medical data using statistical methods (SPSS24, Minitab19 and Eviews 10). The P-value and the Chi-Square test are performed to evaluate any significant correlations between variables. P-values less than 0.05 are considered significant. Results: The vast majority, 34.7% of those women older than 30, had fewer than 8 eggs, while 39.7% had between 8 and 15 eggs. There is a statistically significant relationship between (Age, TSH, FSH and PL) with the number of eggs because the p-value of these was less than the common alpha of 0.01. On the other hand, there is no statistical significance between LH and P4 on the number of eggs because the p-value of both variables was more than 0.05. Conclusion: The study concluded that the number of eggs was affected by age, follicle stimulation hormone, and thyroid stimulating hormone. However, no relation between the number of eggs and the luteinizing and progesterone hormones could be found.