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Construction of 13-locus X-STR multiplex PCR system that reinforces Argus X-12 kit discrimination capacity: Application to the Malay population

Minaguchi K, Samejima M, Nambiar P, Kaneko Y, Ochiai E, Kakimoto Y, et al.

Leg Med (Tokyo), 2024 Sep;70:102463.
PMID: 38823287 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102463

Closely linked groups of markers on the X chromosome are very useful for testing complex kinship relationships involving X-STR transmission. The Argus X-12 kit, a unique commercially available kit, can obtain haplotypes of 4 linkage groups (LGs) consisting of 3 markers. Although many population data have been reported for forensic purposes, differences in discrimination ability exist between LG1 and LG2, 3, and 4 in East Asian populations, and the data of this kit would become more useful if the discrimination ability of the latter groups were increased. Therefore, for matches found using this kit for some linkage group data, then to increase the identification ability, we additionally introduced 13 X-STR loci and established a method allowing comparison using data from 25 loci. The 13X-STRs add two locus data to each of LG2, 3, and 4, and also add two closely linked group (CLG) data between LG2 and 3 and LG3 and 4 in one multiplex PCR. Assessment of this method for a Malay population for which data by Argus X-12 had already been reported showed that the frequencies of distinct haplotypes in LG2, 3, and 4 were increased by 33.0-42.6 %, and frequencies of unique haplotypes increased by 45.4-59.2 %. The respective haplotype diversity values of the additional 3-locus and 4-locus CLGs were 0.9838 and 0.9939, which helps to improve discriminatory power and to predict recombination locations on the X chromosome. Although we have been testing these loci with Japanese subjects, this system would also be useful for the Malay population.
An outbreak of histoplasmosis among healthy young Japanese women after traveling to Southeast Asia

Ohno H, Ogata Y, Suguro H, Yokota S, Watanabe A, Kamei K, et al.

Intern. Med., 2010;49(5):491-5.
PMID: 20190491

Histoplasmosis, caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, is an endemic mycosis in many countries of the world except for Japan. Outbreaks of histoplasmosis among Japanese people are very rare and are mainly imported by travelers. We report an outbreak of histoplasmosis among healthy Japanese people who traveled to a resort area in Southeast Asia. Three young Japanese women traveled to Langkawi island, Malaysia and stayed on the island for five days without visiting caves, a known reservoir of H. capsulatum. All three individuals developed flu-like symptoms with multiple nodule shadows on chest X rays or chest CT scans at around ten days after their return to Japan. Serum samples obtained from the three subjects were positive for anti-Histoplasma antibody and specific PCR for H. capsulatum on lung biopsy specimens and the serum from one patient was positive. The clinical course of all three patients improved without the use of anti-fungal agents and no recurrence has been confirmed. Clinical attendants should consider histoplasmosis when they see patients with flu-like symptoms with abnormal chest X-rays after visiting H. capsulatum endemic areas, especially Southeast Asia.
Fulltext Clinical remission of rheumatoid arthritis in a multicenter real-world study in Asia-Pacific region

Sun X, Li R, Cai Y, Al-Herz A, Lahiri M, Choudhury MR, et al.

Lancet Reg Health West Pac, 2021 Oct;15:100240.
PMID: 34528015 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100240

Background: Clinical remission is an attainable goal for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). However, data on RA remission rates from multinational studies in the Asia-Pacific region are limited. We conducted a cross-sectional multicentric study to evaluate the clinical remission status and the related factors in RA patients in the Asia-Pacific region.
Methods: RA patients receiving standard care were enrolled consecutively from 17 sites in 11 countries from APLAR RA SIG group. Data were collected on-site by rheumatologists with a standardized case-report form. Remission was analyzed by different definitions including disease activity score using 28 joints (DAS28) based on ESR and CRP, clinical disease activity index (CDAI), simplified disease activity index (SDAI), Boolean remission definition, and clinical deep remission (CliDR). Logistic regression was used to determine related factors of remission.
Findings: A total of 2010 RA patients was included in the study, the overall remission rates were 62•3% (DAS28-CRP), 35•5% (DAS28-ESR), 30•8% (CDAI), 26•5% (SDAI), 24•7% (Boolean), and 17•1% (CliDR), respectively, and varied from countries to countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) prescription rate was low (17•9%). Compared to patients in non-remission, patients in remission had higher rates of b/tsDMARDs usage and lower rates of GC usage. The favorable related factors were male sex, younger age, fewer comorbidities, fewer extra-articular manifestations (EAM), and use of b/tsDMARDs, while treatment with GC was negatively related to remission.
Interpretation: Remission rates were low and varied in the Asia-Pacific region. Treatment with b/tsDMARDs and less GC usage were related to higher remission rate. There is an unmet need for RA remission in the Asia-Pacific region.
Fulltext Mucocutaneous Disease Activity and Damage Accrual in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Analyses From the Asia-Pacific Lupus Collaboration Longitudinal Cohort Study

Saracino AM, Hao Y, Hansen D, Chen YH, Hoi A, Golder V, et al.

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken), 2026 Nov;78(11):1608-1617.
PMID: 41940438 DOI: 10.1002/acr.80050

OBJECTIVE: This research article aims to describe the prevalence, associations, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impact of mucocutaneous features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
METHODS: Data from the Asia-Pacific Lupus Collaboration cohort were analyzed (2013-2021). Mucocutaneous activity (MC-A) items were rash, alopecia, and mucosal ulcers; were defined by the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000; and were persistent if present for at least six months. Mucocutaneous damage (MC-D) items were chronic skin ulceration, scarring alopecia, and skin/panniculum scarring and were defined by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index. HRQoL was measured by 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) surveys. Multivariate logistic generalized estimating equation models were used to determine correlates of MC-A at each visit. Time-varying covariate survival models were used to determine predictors of MC-D.
RESULTS: During a median of 2.5 (interquartile range 1.0-5.1) years' follow-up, 1,499 of 4,102 patients (36.5%) had MC-A (rash n = 1,055, alopecia n = 731, mucosal ulcers n = 352) and 606 of 3,655 patients (16.6%) had persistent MC-A. These patients were more likely to record worse mean mental (42.6 vs 44.8; P = 0.014) and physical component (41.1 vs 46.1; P