Objective: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the leading cause of female mortality in gynecologic malignancies, with a rising incidence in Japan. This study aimed to validate the treatment patterns and safety of niraparib as maintenance therapy for EOC following initial chemotherapy in clinical practice in Japan. Methods: Leveraging claims data between April 2008 and December 2022, this descriptive study comprised EOC-diagnosed patients receiving initial platinum-based chemotherapy, debulking surgery, and niraparib as maintenance therapy. Patient characteristics, prescription status, transfusion details, and laboratory data were assessed and reported as summary statistics and frequencies. Results: Among 291 patients, the median age was 64.0 years and 94.5% received a 200-mg daily dose of niraparib. At week 12, 78.7% (229/291) continued niraparib treatment, 21.3% (62/291) discontinued, and 52.2% (152/291) required treatment interruptions. Of the 62 patients who discontinued treatment, 27 patients initiated subsequent EOC treatment within 12 weeks following niraparib discontinuation. Blood transfusions were needed in 10.3% (30/291), and of 55 patients with available laboratory data, 61.8% (34/55) had decreased platelet count <100,000/µL, 25.5% (14/55) had decreased hemoglobin level <8 g/dL, and 22.7% (5/22) had decreased neutrophil count <1,000/µL, meeting the criteria for treatment interruption. Among those with thrombocytopenia, 88.2% (30/34) were able to either resume or continue treatment. Conclusion Niraparib demonstrated favorable tolerability in Japanese patients with advanced EOC, with effective management of thrombocytopenia through dose adjustments and supportive care, supporting its viability as post-chemotherapy maintenance therapy.

Since the discovery of the first strain in 1961 in England, MRSA, the most notorious multidrug-resistant hospital pathogen, has spread all over the world. MRSA repeatedly turned down the challenges by number of chemotherapeutics, the fruits of modern organic chemistry. Now, we are in short of effective therapeutic agents against MRSA prevailing among immuno-compromised patients in the hospital. On top of this, we recently became aware of the rise of diverse clones of MRSA, some of which have increased pathogenic potential compared to the classical hospital-associated MRSA, and the others from veterinary sources. They increased rapidly in the community, and started menacing otherwise healthy individuals by causing unexpected acute infection. This review is intended to provide a whole picture of MRSA based on its genetic makeup as a versatile pathogen and our tenacious colonizer.
Adenosine ; Chemistry, Organic ; Chromatography, Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary ; Clone Cells ; Colon ; England ; Fruit ; Humans ; Methicillin ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Sprains and Strains ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus

Purpose: Our aim was to investigate if such trunk muscular activation at standing could have an effect on their trunk muscular activation at leaning backward and forward and the strength of trunk isometric flexion and extension. Methods: The Electromyography (EMG) of lumbar paraspinals (LP) and rectus abdominis (RA) were recorded for 18 healthy volunteers at three positions (standing, leaning backward and leaning forward). In addition, the strength of maximum isometric of trunk flexion and extension were measured at sitting position. Then the flexion/extension (F/E) ratio was calculated. Results: 18 healthy volunteers were classified into Flexor group (n=5) and Extensor group (n=13). The RA-EMG of Extensor group was significantly larger than that of Flexor group at leaning backward position. Extensor group, also, had a higher strength of trunk isometric extension than that of Flexor group. Flexor group had a higher F/E ratio than that of Extensor group. Conclusion: A meaning of this study was to investigate that there were subjects who were higher paraspinals or rectus abdominis activation. Such difference was caused from muscular activation at working upper body and demonstrating of muscular strength, and this study may be helpful to develop study of physical therapy from now on.