Increased interferon alpha receptor 2 mRNA levels is associated with renal cell carcinoma metastasis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Interferon-α (IFN-α) is one of the central agents in immunotherapy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and binds to the IFN-α receptor (IFNAR). We investigated the role of IFNAR in RCC.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We quantified IFNAR mRNA expression in paired tumor and non-tumor samples from the surgical specimens of 103 consecutive patients with RCC using a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and IFNAR2 protein using Western blotting.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The absolute level of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 mRNAs in tumor and non-tumor tissues did not correlate with the malignant and metastatic profiles. The relative yields of the PCR product from the tumor tissue to that from the corresponding non-tumor tissue (T/N) for the expression of IFNAR mRNAs were calculated. While the T/N ratio of IFNAR1 did not correlate with any factor, a high T/N ratio of IFNAR2 correlated with poor differentiation (<it>P </it>< 0.05), local invasion (<it>P </it>< 0.001), and metastasis (<it>P </it>< 0.0001). By multivariate analysis, a high T/N ratio of IFNAR2 predicted a shortened overall survival in all cases (<it>P </it>< 0.05) and a shorter disease-free survival in those without metastasis (M0; 68 cases, <it>P </it>< 0.05). Impressively, patients with a poorer response to IFN-α treatment had a higher IFNAR2 T/N ratio than those who had a good response (P < 0.05). IFNAR2c protein expression was higher in the primary tumors in patients with metastases (M1; 35 cases) compared to those without ( P < 0.0001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>IFNAR2 is associated with the progression of RCC.</p

Prescription of anti-influenza drugs in Japan, 2014-2020: A retrospective study using open data from the national claims database.

BackgroundBoth physicians and patients are proactive towards managing seasonal influenza in Japan and six drugs are approved. Although many countries have national influenza surveillance systems, data on nationwide prescription practices of anti-influenza drugs are lacking. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the status of anti-influenza drug use in Japan by analyzing real-world data.MethodsThis retrospective study analyzed open data from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups, which covers most claims data from national health insurance. We estimated the annual number of patients prescribed anti-influenza drugs, which drugs they were prescribed, the patients' age and sex distribution, drug costs, and regional disparities for the period 2014-2020.ResultsFor 2014-2019, an estimated 6.7-13.4 million patients per year were prescribed anti-influenza drugs, with an annual cost of 22.3-48.0 billion JPY (Japanese Yen). In addition, 21.1-32.0 million rapid antigen tests were performed at a cost of 30.1-47.1 billion JPY. In 2017, laninamivir was the most frequently prescribed anti-influenza drug (48%), followed by oseltamivir (36%), while in 2018, the newly introduced baloxavir accounted for 40.8% of prescriptions. After the emergence of COVID-19, the estimated number of patients prescribed anti-influenza drugs in 2020 dropped to just 14,000. In 2018, 37.6% of prescriptions were for patients aged ConclusionsBased on our clarification of how influenza is clinically managed in Japan, future work should evaluate the clinical and economic aspects of proactively prescribing anti-influenza drugs

Peripubertal exposure to the neonicotinoid pesticide dinotefuran affects dopaminergic neurons and causes hyperactivity in male mice

Although neonicotinoid pesticides are expected to have harmful influence on mammals, there is little animal experimental data to support the effect and mechanisms. Since acetylcholine causes the release of dopamine, neonicotinoids may confer a risk of developmental disorders via a disturbance in the monoamine systems. Male mice were peripubertally administered dinotefuran (DIN) referring to no observed effect level (NOEL) and performed behavioral and immunohistological analyses. In an open field test, the total locomotor activity was increased in a dose-dependent manner. The immunoreactivity of tyrosine hydroxylase in the substantia nigra was increased in DIN-exposed mice. These results suggest that exposure to DIN in peripubertal male mice causes hyperactivity and a disturbance of dopaminergic signaling

Survival curve in patients with renal cancer based on the mean values of T/N ratio of expression of IFNAR2 mRNAs in kidney tissues, the cases were divided into two groups at this levels – high and low expression

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Increased interferon alpha receptor 2 mRNA levels is associated with renal cell carcinoma metastasis"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/7/159</p><p>BMC Cancer 2007;7():159-159.</p><p>Published online 15 Aug 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1988828.</p><p></p> Overall survival curve in total 103 tumors and disease-free survival curve in MO cases of 68 tumors at nephrectomy. value was analyzed by log-rank test

Western blotting analyses of IFNAR2 proteins in primary lesions with (M1) and without (M0) metastasis

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Increased interferon alpha receptor 2 mRNA levels is associated with renal cell carcinoma metastasis"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/7/159</p><p>BMC Cancer 2007;7():159-159.</p><p>Published online 15 Aug 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1988828.</p><p></p> IFNAR2b; 55KDa, IFNAR2c; 102 KDa. N; non-tumor, T; tumor. Each number corresponds to a case number