Papers - UMEKITA Kunihiko
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Antiviral immune response against HTLV-1 invalidates T-SPOT.TB® results in patients with HTLV-1-positive rheumatic diseases. Reviewed
Kimura M, Umekita K, Iwao C, Kawano K, Hashikura Y, Hashiba Y, Hidaka T, Sugata K, Satou Y, Miyazaki T.
Front Immunol. 15 1480506 2024.10
Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
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Crucial role of dendritic cells in the generation of anti-tumor T-cell responses and immunogenic tumor microenvironment to suppress tumor development. Reviewed
Tominaga M, Uto T, Fukaya T, Mitoma S, Riethmacher D, Umekita K, Yamashita Y, Sato K.
Front Immunol. 15 1200461 2024.8
Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
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Nine-year seroepidemiological study of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection in feral horses in Cape Toi, Japan. Reviewed
Mekata H, Yamada K, Umeki K, Yamamoto M, Ochi A, Umekita K, Kobayashi I, Hirai T, Okabayashi T.
BMC Vet Res. 20 ( 1 ) 190 2024.5
Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
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Purification Method of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1-Infected Cells without Virions. Reviewed
Kawano K, Hashikura Y, Umekita K.
Viruses. 16 ( 2 ) 249 2024.2
Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
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Performance evaluation of Espline HTLV-I/II, a newly developed rapid immunochromatographic antibody test for different diagnostic situations. Reviewed
Kuramitsu M, Momose H, Uchida Y, Ishitsuka K, Kubota R, Tokunaga M, Utsunomiya A, Umekita K, Hashikura Y, Nosaka K, Koh K-R, Nakamura H, Sagara Y, Sobata R, Satake M, Nagata K, Hasegawa Y, Sasaki D, Hasegawa H, Sato T, Yamano Y, Hiraga K, Tezuka K, Ikebe E, Matsuoka S, Okuma K, Watanabe T, Miura K, Hamaguchi I.
Microbiol Spectr. 11 ( 6 ) e0207823 2023.12
Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
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Differences in muscle magnetic resonance imaging findings between anti-signal recognition particle antibody-positive myopathy and anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibody-positive myositis Reviewed
Kimura M, Aizawa A, Kudou R, Rikitake Y, Iwao C, Rikitake M, Iwao K, Kariya Y, Kawaguchi T, Matsuda M, Miyauchi S, Takajo I, Umekita K
Clin Exp Rheumatol. doi: 10.55563/clinexprheumatol/fjfkfs 2023.7
Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
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Nosocomial Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome in Companion Animals, Japan, 2022 Reviewed
Mekata H., Umeki K., Yamada K., Umekita K., Okabayashi T.
Emerging Infectious Diseases 29 ( 3 ) 614 - 617 2023.3
Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：Emerging Infectious Diseases
In Japan, 2 cats that underwent surgery in a room where a sick dog had been euthanized became ill within 9 days of surgery. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus was detected in all 3 animals; nucleotide sequence identity was 100%. Suspected cause was an uncleaned pulse oximeter probe used for all patients.
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Seroprevalence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in medium-sized wild mammals in Miyazaki, Japan. Reviewed
Kaneko C, Mekata H, Umeki K, Sudaryatma PE, Irie T, Yamada K, Misawa N, Umekita K, Okabayashi T.
Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 14 ( 2 ) 102115 2023.3
Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
DOI： 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102115. Epub 2022 Dec 22. PMID: 36577308
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HAS-Flow May Be an Adequate Method for Evaluating Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Infected Cells in Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1-Positive Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Receiving Antirheumatic Therapies: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Observation Study Reviewed
Umekita K, Hashikura Y, Takaki A, Kimura M, Kawano K, Iwao C, Miyauchi S, Kawaguchi T, Matsuda M, Hashiba Y, Hidaka T.
Viruses 15 ( 2 ) 468 2023.2
Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
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Mekata Hirohisa, Kawaguchi Takeshi, Iwao Kosho, Umeki Kazumi, Yamada Kentaro, Umekita Kunihiko, Okabayashi Tamaki
Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases advpub ( 0 ) 211 - 214 2023.1
Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：National Institute of Infectious Diseases
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is caused by the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV). Although SFTS is a fatal tick-borne zoonosis, it can infect humans without tick bite exposure. Recently, direct transmission of SFTSV from companion pets to humans has become a major problem. We present a case of SFTSV transmission from a dead community cat to a woman who buried the cat in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. The community cat died without a diagnosis of SFTS, and the woman buried it without taking any precautions. She developed symptoms of SFTS 9 days later. The woman tested positive for SFTS viral RNA and anti-SFTSV antibodies. The cat’s carcass was exhumed, and tissue samples were collected to confirm the viral infection. Numerous copies of viral RNA were detected. The SFTSV M segment sequences in the cat and the woman were 100% homologous. The woman claimed that she had touched blood that had leaked from the cat’s body while burying it. However, she could have been infected while transporting the cat to the animal hospital. This study highlights the risk of SFTSV infection from contact with sick or dead community cats.
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Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Cerebral Vasculitis and Lupus Nephritis Successfully Treated with High-dose Glucocorticoids and Mycophenolate Mofetil: A Case Report. Reviewed
Tanaka S, Kawaguchi T, Kudo R, Kimura M, Rikitake Y, Iwao C, Rikitake M, Iwao K, Aizawa A, Kariya Y, Matsuda M, Miyauchi S, Takajo I, Umekita K.
Intern Med 61 ( 20 ) 3131 - 3135 2022.10
Publishing type：Case report
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High incidence of serious infections requiring hospitalisation in human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1-positive rheumatoid arthritis: A case-controlled observational study. Reviewed
Hashiba Y, Umekita K, Kimura M, Iwao C, Iwao K, Kariya Y, Kubo K, Miyauchi S, Kudou R, Rikitake Y, Kawaguchi T, Matsuda M, Takajo I, Inoue E, Hidaka T, Okayama A.
Mod Rheumatol 32 ( 5 ) 866 - 874 2022.8
Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
DOI： 10.1093/mr/roab077.
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Neutralizing mAbs against SFTS Virus Gn Protein Show Strong Therapeutic Effects in an SFTS Animal Model. Reviewed
Shimojima M, Sugimoto S, Umekita K, Onodera T, Sano K, Tani H, Takamatsu Y, Yoshikawa T, Kurosu T, Suzuki T, Takahashi Y, Ebihara H, Saijo M.
Viruses. 14 ( 8 ) 1665 2022.7
Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
DOI： 10.3390/v14081665.
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Effect of HTLV-1 Infection on the Clinical Course of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Invited Reviewed
Umekita K.
Viruses 14 ( 7 ) 2022.7
Authorship：Lead author Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：Viruses
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the causative agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The effects of HTLV-1 on health are not fully elucidated. Epidemiological studies have shown that the prevalence of HTLV-1 infection is high in patients with rheumatic diseases. The prevalence of comorbidities, such as Sjögren’s syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is higher in patients with HAM/TSP than the in general population. Studies have shown the effects of HTLV-1-infection on the clinical course of RA. Major questions on the association between HTLV-1 infection and RA: (1) Is it possible that HTLV-1 infection causes RA? (2) Do patients with RA who are infected with HTLV-1 have different clinical features? (3) Are immunosuppressants associated with an increased prevalence of HAM/TSP or ATL in RA patients with HTLV-1 infection? Is ATL an immunosuppressive therapy-associated lymphoproliferative disorder? No large-scale studies have investigated the incidence of ATL in patients with RA. However, several studies have reported the development of ATL in patients with RA who have HTLV-1 infection. This review aimed to shed light on the association between HTLV-1 infection and RA and summarize the unmet medical needs of RA patients with HTLV-1 infection.
DOI： 10.3390/v14071460
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HTLV-1陽性全身性強皮症の臨床的特徴. Reviewed
宮内俊一, 工藤理紗, 木村賢俊, 岩尾千紘, 力武雄幹, 岩尾浩昭, 力武真央, 相澤彩子, 川口剛, 仮屋裕美, 松田基弘, 梅北邦彦, 高城佳人子, 高城一郎, 岡山昭彦.
九州リウマチ 41 ( 1 ) 37 - 42 2022.3
Authorship：Corresponding author Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
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Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Accompanied by Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis: An Autopsy Case. International journal
Kosho Iwao, Takeshi Kawaguchi, Masatoshi Kimura, Chihiro Iwao, Mao Rikitake, Ayako Aizawa, Yumi Kariya, Motohiro Matsuda, Syunichi Miyauchi, Ichiro Takajo, Takumi Kiwaki, Tsuyoshi Fukushima, Hiroaki Kataoka, Tadaki Suzuki, Akihiko Okayama, Kunihiko Umekita
Viruses 13 ( 6 ) 2021.6
Language：Japanese Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tickborne infectious disease in China, Korea, and Japan caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV). SFTS has a high mortality rate due to multiorgan failure. Recently, there are several reports on SFTS patients with mycosis. Here, we report a middle-aged Japanese SFTS patient with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) revealed by an autopsy. A 61-year-old man with hypertension working in forestry was bitten by a tick and developed fever, diarrhea, and anorexia in 2 days. On day 4, consciousness disorder was appearing, and the patient was transferred to the University of Miyazaki Hospital. A blood test showed leukocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, as well as elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase. The SFTSV gene was detected in serum using a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. On day 5, respiratory failure appeared and progressed rapidly, and on day 7, the patient died. An autopsy was performed that revealed hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow and bleeding of several organs. IPA was observed in lung specimens. SFTSV infection may be a risk factor for developing IPA. Early diagnosis and treatment of IPA may be important in patients with SFTS.
DOI： 10.3390/v13061086
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Corticosteroids May Have Negative Effects on the Management of Patients with Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome: A Case-Control Study. Reviewed International journal
Takeshi Kawaguchi, Kunihiko Umekita, Atsushi Yamanaka, Seiichiro Hara, Tetsuro Yamaguchi, Eisuke Inoue, Akihiko Okayama
Viruses 13 ( 5 ) 2021.5
Authorship：Corresponding author Language：Japanese Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging viral hemorrhagic fever in China, Korea, and Japan. To date, no standardized treatment protocol for SFTS has been established. Corticosteroids (CS) may be administered to patients with SFTS and hemophagocytic syndrome, but its effectiveness and safety are still debatable. We conducted a retrospective case series review at four medical facilities in Miyazaki, Japan. Based on the medical records, clinical data, including the patients background, symptoms, physical findings, laboratory data at initial presentation, treatment, and outcome, were compared between the CS-treated and the non-CS-treated group. A total of 47 patients with confirmed SFTS in each hospital were enrolled in this study; there were 14 fatal cases and 33 nonfatal cases. The case fatality ratio was 29.8%. After adjusting patients' background by propensity score matching, the case fatality ratio was higher (p = 0.04) and complications of secondary infections, including invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, tended to be more frequent (p = 0.07) in the CS-treated group than in the non-CS-treated group. These data suggested that administration of CS to patients with SFTS should be carefully considered.
DOI： 10.3390/v13050785
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Survey of actual conditions of erythema marginatum as a prodromal symptom in Japanese patients with hereditary angioedema. Reviewed
Ohsawa I, Fukunaga A, Imamura S, Iwamoto K, Tanaka A, Hide M, Honda D, Yamashita K, Fujiwara C, Ishikawa O, Yamaguchi T, Maehara J, Hirose T, Ieko M, Umekita K, Nakamura Y, Gotoh H.
World Allergy Organ J 14 ( 2 ) 100511 2021.2
Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
DOI： doi.org/10.1016/j.waojou.2021.100511 Online publication
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Strongyloides stercoralis colitis in a patient positive for human T-cell leukemia virus with rheumatoid arthritis during an anti-rheumatic therapy: a case report. Reviewed
Hashiba Y, Umekita K, Minami H, Kawano A, Nagayasu E, Maruyama H, Hidaka T, Okayama A.
Mod Rheumatol Case Rep 5 ( 1 ) 16 - 21 2021.1
Authorship：Corresponding author Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
DOI： doi:10.1080/24725625.2020.1808304. Online ahead of print.
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Impact of C-Reactive Protein Levels on Differentiating of Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome From Japanese Spotted Fever. Reviewed International journal
Takeshi Kawaguchi, Kunihiko Umekita, Atsushi Yamanaka, Seiichiro Hara, Tetsuro Yamaguchi, Eisuke Inoue, Akihiko Okayama
Open forum infectious diseases 7 ( 11 ) ofaa473 2020.11
Authorship：Corresponding author Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging viral hemorrhagic fever in China, Korea, and Japan. Japanese spotted fever (JSF), which belongs to spotted fever group rickettsioses, is also endemic to Western Japan. Patients with SFTS and those with JSF display many of the same clinical manifestations. Sudden fever, rash, tick bite, and neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms may be seen in both infections, but the frequency and severity of each disease have not been compared and studied. Because laboratory confirmation of pathogens takes time, it is important to predict diagnosis of SFTS vs JSF based on the features of the clinical characteristics at the initial presentation, particularly in primary care settings. Methods: We conducted a case series review at 4 medical facilities in Miyazaki, Japan. Based on the medical records, clinical and laboratory characteristics were compared between patients with SFTS and those with JSF. Results: Eighty-one patients were enrolled in this study, including 41 with SFTS and 40 with JSF. The absence of rash (P < .001), leukopenia (P < .001), and normal C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (P < .001) were the variables distinguishing SFTS from JSF. Normal CRP levels (≤1.0 mg/dL) had a 95% sensitivity (84%-99%) and 97% specificity (87%-100%) for SFTS, with a positive likelihood ratio of 37.1 (5.35-257). Conclusions: Normal serum CRP levels were shown to differentiate SFTS from JSF with a very high probability.
DOI： 10.1093/ofid/ofaa473