ABSTRACT
BackgroundRapid antigen tests have been used to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, there have been concerns about their decreased sensitivity to the Omicron variant. AimsIn this study, we compared the sensitivity and specificity of the rapid antigen and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests among the players and staff members of the Japan Professional Football League and clubs. Furthermore, we evaluated the relationship between the sensitivity and the duration from the onset of the symptoms to testing, the manufacturer of the rapid antigen test kits, and the PCR test analyte. Design and methodsThis was a retrospective observational study. We used 656 results from both the rapid antigen and PCR tests for COVID-19 using the analytes collected on the same day from January 12 to March 2, 2022, during the Omicron variant outbreak in Japan. ResultsThe sensitivity of the rapid antigen test compared with the PCR test was 0.63 (95% confidence interval: 0.54-0.72) and the specificity was 0.998 (95% confidence interval: 0.995-1.000). There were no significant associations between the sensitivity and the duration from the onset of the symptoms to testing (including asymptomatic cases in the category), vaccination status, manufacturer of the rapid antigen test kit or PCR analyte (P > 0.05) with small effect sizes (Cramers V or {varphi}: [≤] 0.22). ConclusionsEven during the Omicron outbreak, the sensitivity of the rapid antigen tests did not depend on the duration from the onset of the symptoms to testing.
ABSTRACT
To confirm the safety and efficacy of a low-calorie mayonnaise supplemented with phytosterol esters (PEM) at a daily consumption dose of 884 mg given for 12 weeks with the goal of lowering serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, we conducted a double-blind comparative study in healthy adults with marginally high serum levels of LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol using a mayonnaise without phytosterol esters supplementation (CM) as the control food. Serum LDL cholesterol levels decreased significantly in the PEM group as compared with the CM group during the 12-week intervention period (136.3 ± 16.4 vs. 145.0 ± 19.3 mg/dL at Week 8 (<i>P</i> < 0.05) and 135.0 ± 17.4 mg/dL vs. 144.9 ± 17.5 mg/dL at Week 12; <i>P</i> < 0.05). No observable adverse effects were observed due to the ingestion of PEM in this study. The safety of PEM was again confirmed by an additional clinical study in which healthy adult subjects ingested a 3-fold greater amount of PEM (2,652 mg of phytosterol esters as a daily dose) for 4 weeks. Thus, we concluded that PEM is effective in lowing serum levels of LDL cholesterol and is safe and well tolerated without any clinical problems.<br>
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fat-free mass (FFM) of the total body, the upper limbs, and the lower limbs in healthy subjects and basketball players obtained by the new 8-electrode segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis (S-BIA) and to compare the results with the FFM obtained by DXA. The participants were 30 healthy subjects (15 men and 15 women) aged 24.9±3.5 years old and 15 female basketball players aged 23.1±3.1 years old. In the healthy subjects, positive correlations (p<0.001) were observed between the FFM obtained by S-BIA and DXA of the total body (r=0.973), the upper limbs (r=0.956), and the lower limbs (r=0.954). Similarly, in the basketball players, positive correlations (p<0.001, p<0.01) were observed between the FFM obtained by S-BIA and DXA of the total body (r=0.943), the upper limbs (r=0.743), and the lower limbs (r=0.934). The results suggest that the new 8-electrode S-BIA is a valid and convenient method for analyzing body composition of the total body and the body segments in healthy subjects and athletes.
ABSTRACT
Objective : To examine the association between the combination therapy of calcium antagonists with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and underlying diseases for hypertensive patients.<BR>Design : Cross-sectional survey of the drug utilization.<BR>Methods : This survey included 603 hypertensive patients who had visited Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital, Toyama, Japan more than twice from January to June in 1996 and received the prescriptions of calcium antagonists and/or ACE inhibitors. Main outcome measure was the combined medication of calcium antagonists with ACE inhibitors. Underlying diseases under consideration were diabetes mellitus (DM), hyperlipidemia (LIPID), ischemic heart disease (IHD), chronic heart failure (CHF), and ischemic stroke (STROKE).<BR>Results : Out of 603 hypertensive patients, 57.5% received only calcium antagonists, 23.7% received only ACE inhibitors, and 18.7% received both of them. Patients with either IHD or CHF tended to receive the combination therapy as compared to DM or LIPID. Although men tended to receive the combination therapy, a gender effect might be a confounder for the association. Logistic regression showed a 33% increase (P=0.265) in frequency of the combination therapy in patients with IHD after adjusting for age and gender.<BR>Conclusion : Some underlying diseases were associated with more frequent prescriptions of the combination therapy for hypertensive patients, especially with ischemic heart diseases. This result should be regarded as an exploratory stage although the pattern of antihypertensive drug use could be reasonably explained from the pharmacological sense.
