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Background/Aims: The safety and efficacy of filgotinib, a once-daily oral Janus kinase 1 preferential inhibitor, were evaluated in Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in the phase 2b/3 SELECTION trial. Methods: SELECTION (NCT02914522) was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial comprising 2 induction studies and a maintenance study. Adults with moderately to severely active UC were randomized in induction study A (biologic-naïve) or B (biologic-experienced) to receive filgotinib 200 mg, 100 mg, or placebo once daily for 11 weeks. Patients in clinical remission or Mayo Clinic score response at week 10 entered the 47-week maintenance study. Efficacy and safety outcomes were assessed in Japanese patients enrolled in Japan. Results: Overall, 37 and 72 Japanese patients were enrolled in Japan in induction studies A and B, respectively, and 54 entered the maintenance study. Numerically higher proportions of filgotinib 200 mg-treated than placebo-treated patients achieved clinical remission in induction study A (4/15 [26.7%] vs. 0/6 [0%]) and the maintenance study (5/20 [25.0%] vs. 0/9 [0%]), but not induction study B (1/29 [3.4%] vs. 1/14 [7.1%]). Both doses were well tolerated, and no new safety signals were noted. Herpes zoster was reported in 1 filgotinib 200 mg-treated patient in each of induction study A (2.3%, 1/44) and the maintenance study (5.0%, 1/20). Conclusions: These data, alongside those of the overall SELECTION population, suggest the potential of filgotinib 200 mg as a viable treatment option for Japanese patients with UC. Owing to small patient numbers, data should be interpreted cautiously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Japan has announced its decision to start discharging radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean, it's expected that global marine environment pollution will worsen due to the contaminated water, posing a new challenge to the ballast water management system dominated by the flag state. In this context, this paper studies the equilibrium strategies on ship ballast water discharge controls between the flag states and the port states in different situations. Through a numerical study, we analyze how the ballast water discharge location, decision sequences of relevant states, the role of the International Environmental Protection Organization and its aid strategies impact the control strategies by the flag states and the port states. In the event of radioactive water discharge, the flag state controls alone do not yield satisfactory results, and the port state control is effective supplementation to the flag state control to mitigate risks of marine pollution. Furthermore, where the International Environmental Protection Organization takes reasonable aid steps, the flag states are incentivized to take control measures. [Display omitted] • The challenges of ship ballast water management will be much severer after nuclear water released by Japan. • Supplementary role of Port State Control to Flag State Control in ballast water management is discussed. • The role of International Environmental Protection Organization in ballast water management is discussed. • Policy suggestions are proposed for ballast water management under the background of nuclear water release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elongate ilisha Ilisha elongata is a commercially important fishery resource in both Japan and China. Age and growth of the species were investigated by scale analysis from June 1996 to July 1997 in Ariake Sound, Japan. Scale annuli were formed once a year mainly between June and July. The age was 1–6 years for both male and female individuals. There was no significant difference in the regression of fork length (FL) on scale radius ( R) between sexes by a covariance analysis. The combined sex von Bertalanffy growth equations were expressed as L t = 495.4 × (1 − e−0.3176( t + 0.4108)), where L t is FL in mm at age t. Comparison of the age and growth among different populations from coastal waters in the western North Pacific Ocean suggested that the FL of the Ariake population is the smallest at each age. The spatio–temporal variations in growth are possibly relevant to environmental conditions of the growth grounds of subadults; however, there was no gradient change in the growth of I. elongata with latitude. Water temperature may not be the main factor affecting the growth of this species . The growth of the tropical population from Sarawak differs greatly from those of temperate and subtemperate populations, which implies genetic variation or phenotypic plasticity in different climate zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]