Susumu Morita

Publications (6)13.33 Total impact

• Article: Association Analysis of Toll-like Receptor 4 Polymorphisms in Japanese Primary Biliary Cirrhosis.

  Susumu Morita, Satoru Joshita, Takeji Umemura, Yoshihiko Katsuyama, Takefumi Kimura, Michiharu Komatsu, Kihiro Matsumoto, Kaname Yoshizawa, Astushi Kamijo, Nobuyoshi Yamamura, Eiji Tanaka, Masao Ota
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  ABSTRACT: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is characterized by portal inflammation and immune-mediated destruction of intrahepatic bile ducts that often result in liver failure. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 recognizes lipopolysaccharides of Gram-negative bacteria. Infectious agents have been suspected to play a crucial role in PBC pathogenesis since TLR4 expression was found in bile duct epithelial cells and periportal hepatocytes in liver tissues of PBC. To assess the potential contribution of TLR4 SNPs to the development of this disease, we genotyped five SNPs in TLR4 in 261 PBC patients and 359 controls using a TaqMan assay. No significant positive associations with either PBC susceptibility or progression were uncovered. These results indicate that TLR4 polymorphisms do not play a prominent role in the development of PBC in Japanese patients.
  Human immunology 11/2012; · 2.55 Impact Factor
• Article: Association of IL28B gene polymorphism with development of hepatocellular carcinoma in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

  Satoru Joshita, Takeji Umemura, Yoshihiko Katsuyama, Yuki Ichikawa, Takefumi Kimura, Susumu Morita, Atsushi Kamijo, Michiharu Komatsu, Tetsuya Ichijo, Akihiro Matsumoto, Kaname Yoshizawa, Nozomi Kamijo, Masao Ota, Eiji Tanaka
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  ABSTRACT: IL28B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with spontaneous and treatment-induced elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV). To assess whether the IL28B rs8099917 SNP also affects the progression of chronic HCV infection, we genotyped 511 Japanese HCV patients, including 69 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The T/T genotype of rs8099917 was not associated with the development of HCC (p = 0.623), although stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that liver cirrhosis, age greater than 68 years, and serum albumin <4.2 mg/dl were associated with HCC onset. It appears that the IL28B SNP does not directly influence hepatocarcinogenesis in chronic HCV infection.
  Human immunology 03/2012; 73(3):298-300. · 2.55 Impact Factor
• Article: Changes in the serum level of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen over the natural course of HBV infection.

  Akihiro Matsumoto, Eiji Tanaka, Susumu Morita, Kaname Yoshizawa, Takeji Umemura, Satoru Joshita
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  ABSTRACT: Despite its status as a potential biomarker of hepatitis B virus (HBV) response to interferon treatment, the changes in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels over the natural course of HBV carriers have not been analyzed sufficiently. A total of 101 HBV carriers were followed prospectively from 1999 to 2009. HBsAg level was measured yearly during the followed period. HBsAg levels at baseline ranged from -1.4 to 5.32 log IU/ml, with a median value of 3.2 log IU/ml. Lower HBsAg levels were significantly associated with higher age and lower HBV replication status. The rate of change of HBsAg levels showed two peaks, with a cut-off value of -0.4 log IU/year. Based on this, patients were tentatively classified into rapid decrease (rate of change <-0.4 log IU/year) and non-rapid decrease groups. All baseline levels of HBsAg, HB core-related Ag, and HBV DNA were lower in the rapid decrease group than in the non-rapid decrease group. Patients with persistently positive HBeAg were all classified into the non-rapid decrease group. In patients with persistently negative HBeAg, HBV DNA levels were significantly (P = 0.028) lower in the rapid decrease group than in the non-rapid decrease group. Lower baseline HBsAg levels were significantly associated with older age and lower viral activity. Both a loss of HBeAg detection as well as inactive replication of HBV are suggested to be fundamental factors contributing to a rapid decrease in HBsAg over the natural course of HBV infection.
  Journal of Gastroenterology 02/2012; 47(9):1006-13. · 4.16 Impact Factor
• Article: Early detection of interstitial pneumonia by monitoring KL-6 in a chronic hepatitis C patient undergoing pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy.

  Yuki Ichikawa-Yamada, Satoru Joshita, Yoshinori Tsukahara, Takefumi Kimura, Susumu Morita, Atsushi Kamijo, Takeji Umemura, Tetsuya Ichijo, Akihiro Matsumoto, Kaname Yoshizawa, Eiji Tanaka
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  ABSTRACT: A 58-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis C developed interstitial pneumonia (IP) while undergoing pegylated interferon (PEG IFN)-α-2a and ribavirin (RBV) therapy. Serum levels of sialylated carbohydrate antigen KL-6 (KL-6), a known marker of disease activity in fibrosing lung disorders, had been regularly measured once a month for early detection of IP, and had begun rising noticeably from 12 weeks to 540 U/mL at 33 weeks of treatment. On examination, remarkable fine crackles were detected by dorsal auscultation and bilateral ground-glass opacities and reticular shadows were depicted by computed tomography. The patient successfully recovered from her early-stage pneumonia by immediate discontinuation of therapy, which indicates that regular monitoring of serum KL-6 may be effective for avoidance of IP progression induced by PEG IFN and RBV therapy.
  Hepatology Research 09/2011; 41(9):904-9. · 2.20 Impact Factor
• Article: A case of pyogenic liver abscess infected with Fusobacterium necrophorum depicted by microscopy and confirmed by tissue culture.

  Yuichi Nozawa, Satoru Joshita, Mana Fukushima, Yukiko Sugiyama, Yuki Ichikawa, Takefumi Kimura, Susumu Morita, Atsushi Kamijo, Takeji Umemura, Tetsuya Ichijo, Akihiro Matsumoto, Kaname Yoshizawa, Eiji Tanaka
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  ABSTRACT: A 40-year-old man was admitted with a continuous high grade fever accompanying a relatively large solitary liver abscess with septations. A puncture of the abscess revealed gram-negative rods that could be identified histologically as Fusobacterium necrophorum, which was later confirmed by tissue culture. The patient was switched to meropenem and penicillin, and cured of the infection. Fusobacterium necrophorum is a rare bacterium causing potentially fatal liver abscesses in humans. Clinicians should bear Fusobacterium necrophorum in mind when treating patients with an enlarged solitary liver abscess.
  Internal Medicine 01/2011; 50(17):1815-9. · 0.94 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Satoru Joshita

  Article: A patient with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sorafenib tosylate showed massive tumor lysis with avoidance of tumor lysis syndrome.

  Satoru Joshita, Kaname Yoshizawa, Kenji Sano, Satoshi Kobayashi, Tomohiro Sekiguchi, Susumu Morita, Atsushi Kamijo, Michiharu Komatsu, Takeji Umemura, Tetsuya Ichijo, Akihiro Matsumoto, Eiji Tanaka
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  ABSTRACT: A 33-year-old man presented with pain and palsy of the leg in 2008 for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with huge distant metastases. The patient's tumors had slowly enlarged despite several treatments. Oral administration of sorafenib at 800 mg/day with careful observation was commenced in 2009. Laboratory investigations on day 7 showed massive tumor lysis. An abdominal CT showed multiple low density areas and tumor markers decreased, indicating extended tumor necrosis. In conclusion, clinicians should bear in mind not only the published adverse effects, but also massive tumor lysis, when treating patients with large tumor burden by sorafenib.
  Internal Medicine 01/2010; 49(11):991-4. · 0.94 Impact Factor