Kowa (Japan)

Objective ADP-ribosylation plays an important role in many cellular processes. Our previous work implemented field asymmetric-waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) and in-source collision-induced dissociation (CID) on the quadrupole-Orbitrap to increase ADP-ribosyl peptide yield and acceptor site confidence of higher-energy collisional dissociation (HCD)-dependent ADP-ribosyl peptide identifications. In this study, we evaluated whether FAIMS on the quadrupole-ion trap-Orbitrap also improves electron-transfer/higher-energy collision dissociation (EThcD)-dependent ADP-ribosyl peptide sequencing. Methods ADP-ribosyl peptides derived from THP-1 cells were analyzed on the Fusion Lumos fronted with a FAIMS Pro device. ADP-ribosyl peptides were sequenced using either HCD or EThcD and annotated using the SEQUEST-HT algorithm and RiboMaP, an annotation tool specific for ADP-ribosylated peptide spectra. Results HCD-dependent ADP-ribosyl peptide identifications were enriched at higher compensation voltages than those that used EThcD. The net number of unique ADP-ribosyl and non-ADP-ribosyl (contaminant) peptides across compensation voltages increased by 4.1- and 4.0-fold, respectively, for HCD, and 2.0- and 4.1-fold, respectively, for EThcD, compared to no FAIMS. We also confirmed that while multiple injections of peptides employing distinct compensation voltages maximized the number of EThcD-dependent ADP-ribosyl peptide identifications, their associated XCorr and p-series scores decreased. The most frequent ADP-ribosyl acceptor site was lysine, followed by serine. The proportion of ADP-ribosylated serine sites increased when THP-1 cells were activated with interferon γ (IFN-γ). Conclusion Although FAIMS increases the EThcD-dependent sequencing depth of ADP-ribosyl peptides, the gains are less than when using HCD. The ability to filter out doubly charged contaminant peptides at increasingly higher negative compensation voltages benefits HCD but not EThcD because this dissociation method works optimally with highly charged peptides, non-ADP-ribosyl and ADP-ribosyl alike.

Accurately predicting novel compound-protein interactions (CPIs) is essential for accelerating drug discovery. The generalizability of machine learning-based CPI prediction models relies significantly on the availability and diversity of CPI datasets. To maximize data utility, particularly for highly confidential datasets maintained by industries, federated learning (FL)—which integrates multi-site data while preserving privacy—has emerged as a promising approach. Nonetheless, its effectiveness when applied to heterogeneous data from diverse molecular domains, a common real-world scenario, remains unclear, thereby limiting its broader adoption. This study evaluates FL for CPI prediction using datasets spanning multiple chemical and protein domains, providing practical guidance for optimizing the FL approach. Results indicate that the FL model enhanced out-of-domain prediction performance but was surpassed by local models for in-domain data under data heterogeneity. Drawing on these findings, a new strategy was developed to achieve robust performance for in- and out-of-domain tasks: a similarity-guided ensemble that combines the global FL model with fine-tuned models based on each client's local data. This method demonstrated effectiveness with real-world industry data, including samples from the public database and 13 pharmaceutical companies. Cumulatively, these findings offer practical guidance for implementing FL in contemporary drug discovery processes.

Long-term safety and efficacy of pemafibrate once-daily extended-release (XR) tablets, taken in morning or evening, were evaluated in dyslipidemic patients with high triglycerides (TG). In this multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, phase 3 long-term study, dyslipidemic patients with high TG were randomly assigned to morning or evening administration of XR for 52 weeks. The dose was started at 0.2 mg/day and increased to 0.4 mg/day for patients having fasting serum TG ≥ 150mg/dL during treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint was percent change in fasting serum TG. The study enrolled 121 patients, assigning 61 to morning and 60 to evening administration. The study population included 71.1% males. Mean age was 58.5±11.1 (mean±SD) years, body mass index 27.7±4.3 kg/m2, and fasting TG 264.0±109.2 mg/dL. Fasting serum TG decreased significantly from baseline to 52 weeks among patients overall and in the morning and evening groups (-45.7%, -44.8%, and -46.6%, respectively, p＜0.001 vs. baseline). The difference in least-squares mean between the morning and evening groups was 3.0%, not statistically significant. The dose was increased in 82 patients (44 morning and 38 evening), with 57.3% (95%CI 45.9, 68.2) achieving fasting serum TG ＜150 mg/dL. Adverse events occurred in 83.5% and adverse drug reactions in 19.0% but with no notable safety problems. Long-term, once-daily administration of XR was effective and safe in dyslipidemic patients with high TG. XR provided favorable TG-lowering effects regardless of morning or evening administration, and the XR dose increase proved effective in patients having initially inadequate response.

Patients with type 2 diabetes are at high risk of developing steatotic liver disease (SLD). Weight loss has proven effective in treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in obese patients with type 2 diabetes, with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors showing promising results. However, lean MASLD is more prevalent in Japan, necessitating alternative approaches to body weight reduction. We used the J-STEP/LT dataset including up to 3-year treatment data to analyze the effects of the SGLT2 inhibitor tofogliflozin on liver function and treatment safety and conducted a subgroup analysis based on body mass index (BMI; kg/m2, <20, 20-<23, 23-<25, 25-<30, and ≥30). This study included 4,208 participants. Tofogliflozin significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in participants with baseline ALT levels >30 U/L across all BMI groups, with median changes of -12, -16, -13, -15, and -15 U/L, respectively (P = 0.9291 for trends). However, median changes in body weight with tofogliflozin were -2.00, -2.75, -2.00, -3.00, and -3.80 kg, respectively (P < 0.0001 for trends), with no significant weight loss observed in the BMI <20 group. ALT levels were also significantly decreased in participants who did not lose weight. Safety assessments according to BMI and age categories revealed no clear differences in the frequency of adverse events. Tofogliflozin reduced ALT levels without substantial body weight reduction among lean participants. These findings suggest that SGLT2 inhibitors may be a viable treatment option for non-obese patients with type 2 diabetes and SLD.

To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of ripasudil-brimonidine fixed-dose combination (RBFC), a new intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medication for glaucoma and ocular hypertension (OHT). This prospective, multicentre (23 sites in Japan), open-label study enrolled patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), OHT or exfoliative glaucoma and assigned them to one of four combination therapy cohorts, based on previous treatment(s) received: prostaglandin (PG) analogue (Cohort 1); PG analogue and beta-adrenoceptor blocker (β-blocker) (Cohort 2); PG analogue, β-blocker and carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (Cohort 3); or other/no treatment (Cohort 4). After a ≥ 4-week screening period, eligible patients received twice-daily RBFC for 52weeks in addition to the treatments they were already receiving. Efficacy was assessed by change in IOP from baseline through week 52. Adverse events and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were monitored throughout. In total, 179 patients from Cohort 1 (n = 48), Cohort 2 (n = 44), Cohort 3 (n = 41) and Cohort 4 (n = 46) entered the RBFC treatment period. For all cohorts, mean IOP was significantly reduced at 11:00 (2h after instillation of RBFC) through week 52 with the changes from baseline at week 52 of - 2.7 to - 4.1mmHg across cohorts; all p < 0.001. Common ADRs were conjunctival hyperaemia (58%), allergic conjunctivitis (18%) and blepharitis (17%), most of which were mild in severity. These data demonstrated the long-term efficacy and safety of RBFC, both alone and in combination with other anti-glaucoma agents. RBFC may offer a new treatment option for the long-term management of glaucoma and OHT. Japan Registry of Clinical Trials Identifier: jRCT2080225063. 17 February 2020.

In this paper, we design a cost for entering a slope in a positive direction and evaluate automated operation of dump trucks with a path planning method using that cost. We analyzed data from human-driven dump trucks. We use the tendencies identified by this analysis to design the cost of slopes. We conducted an automatic operation of a dump truck in a quarry to evaluate the inclination of the roll axis. Experimental results showed that when slope direction was taken into account, the maximum tilt of the roll axis was smaller than when conventional Hybrid A* was applied. As a result, it was confirmed that safe automatic operation is possible even at the quarry site with slopes.

PurposeContributing to public health by supporting people’s health is the social mission of community pharmacists. This multicenter, prospective case series study aimed to evaluate changes in people’s behavior and health states through community pharmacists’ self-care support for healthy lifestyles.MethodsThe participants were recruited from voluntary adults aged ≥20 years who agreed to participate in the study, at community pharmacies in Gifu, Japan, between June and September 2021. Participants self-managed their lifestyles for six months while recording their health data, including blood pressure (BP), daily using devices (home BP monitor, body composition monitor, and activity meter) and a diet-recording app. They received lifestyle modification support at pharmacies at least once per month. Participants’ subjective health status, attitudes, and behavioral changes were evaluated using self-report questionnaires. Due to the exploratory nature of this study, data were primarily analyzed descriptively.ResultsFifty-four participants aged 20 to 77 (mean age: 49.6 years; female participant proportion: 55.6%) participated in this study. Their mean weekly BP shifted almost horizontally from baseline to week 24 (systolic BP: 118.8 to 121.5 mmHg; diastolic BP: 76.1 to 77.5 mmHg). At six months, 38.9% and 35.2% of the participants reported better overall health and mental health, respectively, than at baseline. Over 85% of the participants became more proactive in improving their lifestyles regarding salt intake, diet, weight loss, and exercise, although drinking and smoking habits were more challenging to change. All the participants reported that they intended to continue to improve their lifestyle.ConclusionThe participants’ responses suggested that community pharmacists’ support helped increase participants’ health awareness and promote their health-enhancing behaviors. However, its impact on health parameters should be further examined in future studies. More vigorous, tailored self-care support may be worth considering in developing a more effective, community-fitted health/well-being support system in Japan.

Aim: We compared the efficacy and safety of pitavastatin/ezetimibe fixed-dose combination with those of pitavastatin monotherapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia.Methods: This trial was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, parallel-group trial. A total of 293 patients were randomly assigned into four groups receiving 2 mg pitavastatin, 4 mg pitavastatin, 2 mg pitavastatin/10 mg ezetimibe (K-924 LD), and 4 mg pitavastatin/10 mg ezetimibe (K-924 HD) once daily for 12 weeks.Results: The percentage changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), the primary endpoint, were −39.5% for 2 mg pitavastatin, −45.2% for 4 mg pitavastatin, −51.4% for K-924 LD, and −57.8% for K-924 HD. Compared with pitavastatin monotherapy, the pitavastatin/ezetimibe fixed-dose combination significantly reduced LDL-C, total cholesterol, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Meanwhile, the cholesterol synthesis marker, lathosterol, was significantly decreased with pitavastatin monotherapy and the pitavastatin/ezetimibe fixed-dose combination, although the decrease was attenuated in the latter. On the other hand, the cholesterol absorption markers, beta-sitosterol and campesterol, were reduced with the fixed-dose combination but not with pitavastatin monotherapy. The incidence of adverse events and adverse drug reactions was not significantly different between the two groups receiving the fixed-dose combination and monotherapy. The mean values of laboratory tests that are related to liver function and myopathy increased but remained within the reference range in all groups.Conclusions: The pitavastatin/ezetimibe fixed-dose combination showed an excellent LDL-C-reducing effect by the complementary pharmacological action of each component, and its safety profile was similar to that of pitavastatin monotherapy (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04289649).

BackgroundHigh triglyceride levels are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, but whether reductions in these levels would lower the incidence of cardiovascular events is uncertain. Pemafibrate, a selective peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor α modulator, reduces triglyceride levels and improves other lipid levels.MethodsIn a multinational, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes, mild-to-moderate hypertriglyceridemia (triglyceride level, 200 to 499 mg per deciliter), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels of 40 mg per deciliter or lower to receive pemafibrate (0.2-mg tablets twice daily) or matching placebo. Eligible patients were receiving guideline-directed lipid-lowering therapy or could not receive statin therapy without adverse effects and had low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels of 100 mg per deciliter or lower. The primary efficacy end point was a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, coronary revascularization, or death from cardiovascular causes.ResultsAmong 10,497 patients (66.9% with previous cardiovascular disease), the median baseline fasting triglyceride level was 271 mg per deciliter, HDL cholesterol level 33 mg per deciliter, and LDL cholesterol level 78 mg per deciliter. The median follow-up was 3.4 years. As compared with placebo, the effects of pemafibrate on lipid levels at 4 months were −26.2% for triglycerides, −25.8% for very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, −25.6% for remnant cholesterol (cholesterol transported in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins after lipolysis and lipoprotein remodeling), −27.6% for apolipoprotein C-III, and 4.8% for apolipoprotein B. A primary end-point event occurred in 572 patients in the pemafibrate group and in 560 of those in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 0.91 to 1.15), with no apparent effect modification in any prespecified subgroup. The overall incidence of serious adverse events did not differ significantly between the groups, but pemafibrate was associated with a higher incidence of adverse renal events and venous thromboembolism and a lower incidence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.ConclusionsAmong patients with type 2 diabetes, mild-to-moderate hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL and LDL cholesterol levels, the incidence of cardiovascular events was not lower among those who received pemafibrate than among those who received placebo, although pemafibrate lowered triglyceride, VLDL cholesterol, remnant cholesterol, and apolipoprotein C-III levels. (Funded by the Kowa Research Institute; PROMINENT ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03071692.)

The mechanical properties of JISAC8A alloys (Al-12%Si-1%Mg-1%Ni-1%Cu alloy) fabricated by laser-based powder bed fusion (LB) or electron-based powder bed fusion (EB) or gravity casting (CAST) were studied by means of tensile tests at room temperature and 300°C. These alloys were under two types of heat-treatment sequences. One was a T6 treatment, which was corresponding to the heat treatment at 500°C for 2h and 170°C for 4 h, followed by the annealing at 300°C for 10 h. Another was directly annealed at 300°C for 10 h after the fabrication. In the annealed specimens without T6 treatment, the LB alloy showed the highest strength and best elongation at room temperature and 300°C, because eutectic Si particles and Al-Ni-Cu-Fe compounds formed very fine network structure in Al matrix. In the annealed specimens with T6 treatment, the tensile strength at room temperature did not depend on the fabrication methods but the LB alloy showed the best elongation because of finer and isotropic shape of secondary phase particles. The annealed CAST alloy showed the highest strength at 300°C, and the annealed LB alloy showed the lowest strength at 300°C.