Interferon beta-1b (IFNB-1b) 250 microg significantly reduced relapse rates and change in MRI lesion area in Japanese patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, and seemed to be comparably effective in optic-spinal multiple sclerosis (MS) and classic MS. The response to treatment with IFNB-1b in Japanese patients with MS suggests that a common pathogenesis and underlying genetic characteristics are shared with white patients.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravesical KRP-116D, 50% dimethyl sulfoxide solution compared with placebo, in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome patients. Methods: Japanese interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome patients with an O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index score of ≥9, who exhibited the bladder-centric phenotype of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome diagnosed by cystoscopy and bladder-derived pain, were enrolled. Patients were allocated to receive either KRP-116D (n = 49) or placebo (n = 47). The study drug was intravesically administered every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. Results: For the primary endpoint, the change in the mean O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index score from baseline to week 12 was À5.2 in the KRP-116D group and À3.4 in the placebo group. The estimated difference between the KRP-116D and placebo groups was À1.8 (95% confidence interval À3.3, À0.3; P = 0.0188). Statistically significant improvements for KRP-116D were also observed in the secondary endpoints including O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index score, micturition episodes/24 h, voided volume/micturition, maximum voided volume/micturition, numerical rating scale score for bladder pain, and global response assessment score. The adverse drug reactions were mild to moderate, and manageable. Conclusions: This first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial shows that KRP-116D improves symptoms, voiding parameters, and global response assessment, compared with placebo, and has a well-tolerated safety profile in interstitial cystitis/ bladder pain syndrome patients with the bladder-centric phenotype.

Computed tomography showed large masses in both adrenal glands, and bilateral uptake was identified on adrenal scintigraphy. The totals for the bilateral adrenal glands were 98 g and 105 g, respectively, and the left adrenal was larger than the right in both cases. Steroid content in the nodules measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that the cortisol content was definitely lower than that in cortisol-producing adenoma (CPA) and even in normal adrenals. The activities of cytochrome P450c17, P450c21 and P450c11 were evaluated in one case, and all of them were reduced in the nodules.Especially that of P450c17 was remarkably reduced. These data suggest that cortisol production in AIMAH is inefficient, and that the cause of Cushing's syndrome may be related to the marked increase in the number of cells or bulk of the tumor.

No abstract

The HPLC system was used to separate and measure 10 kinds of corticoids in adrenal tissues. Calibration curves were drawn as straight lines that ranged from 1.25 to 20ng, or 1.25 to 200ng by peak area calculated with the chromatointegrator. The samples for the assay were extracted from homogenized tissues and treated with methanol to remove non-steroidal contaminants which may interfere with the ultraviolet absorption monitor. The recovery rate during the assay procedure was calculated using testosterone as the internal standard, because testosterone was not detected in any adrenal tissue examined in the present study. Contents of corticoids were measured in normal adrenal glands obtained during radical nephrectomy for renal cancer and in functioning adrenal adenomas. Steroid levels in the adrenal glands and tumors have been measured by radioimmunoassay until now, and the data obtained in the present study were compared with those in previous reports. Main steroids in normal adrenals were cortisol (F) and corticosterone (B), and there were certain amounts of 11-deoxycortisol (S), 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) and precursor steroids. 11 beta-hydroxy-androstenedione was the main androgen in the adrenal gland. Mineralocorticoids other than B and DOC were very low in the normal adrenals. There was a certain balance between the production of cortisol and corticosterone in normal adrenals. In functioning adenomas, the levels of F, B and aldosterone, and F to B ratios (F/B) varied according to their biological features. Although with the HPLC system it was possible to obtain the production balance of each steroid clearly in the chromatogram, we could not detect the delta 5-3 hydroxysteroids such as pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone using the ultraviolet absorption monitor.