The Relationship of Alcohol Consumption and Drinking Pattern to the Risk of Glomerular Hyperfiltration in Middle-aged Japanese Men: The Kansai Healthcare Study.

BACKGROUND: Glomerular hyperfiltration has been reported to be associated with adverse renal outcomes in the general population. It is not known whether drinking pattern is associated with the risk of glomerular hyperfiltration in healthy individuals. METHODS: We prospectively followed middle-aged 8,640 Japanese men with normal renal function, no proteinuria, no diabetes, and no use of antihypertensive medications at entry. Data on alcohol consumption were gathered by questionnaire. Glomerular hyperfiltration was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥117 mL/min/1.73 m2, which was the upper 2.5th percentile value of eGFR in the entire cohort. RESULTS: During 46,186 person-years of follow-up, 330 men developed glomerular hyperfiltration. In a multivariate model, for men who consumed alcohol on 1-3 days per week, alcohol consumption of ≥69.1 g ethanol/drinking day was significantly associated with the risk of glomerular hyperfiltration (hazard ratio [HR] 2.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-4.74) compared with non-drinkers. For those who consumed alcohol on 4-7 days per week, higher alcohol consumption per drinking day was associated with a higher risk of glomerular hyperfiltration: the HRs for alcohol consumption of 46.1-69.0, and ≥69.1 g ethanol/drinking day were 1.55 (95% CI, 1.01-2.38), and 1.78 (95% CI, 1.02-3.12), respectively. CONCLUSION: For high drinking frequency per week, more alcohol intake per drinking day was associated with an increased risk of glomerular hyperfiltration, while for low drinking frequency per week, only very high alcohol intake per drinking day was associated with an increased risk of glomerular hyperfiltration in middle-aged Japanese men.

High insertion of the right diaphragm complicated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A case report of rare thoracoscopic findings.

We encountered a case of high insertion of the right diaphragm complicated with congenital diaphragmatic hernia that was diagnosed based on thoracoscopic findings. A full-term male baby was suspected of having right congenital diaphragmatic hernia or diaphragmatic eventration on postnatal imaging. He only had episodes of mild but prolonged symptoms following upper respiratory tract infection and his course was otherwise uneventful during outpatient monitoring. At 1 year old, the elevated liver volume remained large, which might eventually interfere with his lung growth, so thoracoscopic exploration was planned. Thoracoscopy revealed liver prolapse from a diaphragmatic defect. In addition, the anterior to lateral inserted part of the diaphragm was high, with the anterior part reaching the fourth rib. We repaired only the diaphragmatic defect without repositioning the diaphragm, and the postoperative course was uneventful. High insertion of the diaphragm should be considered as a differential diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic eventration.

Body Mass Index and the Risk of Persistent Proteinuria in Middle-Aged Men: The Kansai Healthcare Study.

INTRODUCTION: Proteinuria is a risk factor for end-stage renal failure. However, it is not known whether body mass index (BMI) is prospectively associated with the risk of future developing proteinuria, taking into account transient proteinuria. METHODS: We enrolled 9,320 nondiabetic Japanese middle-aged men who had no proteinuria, an estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2, no history of cancer, and no use of antihypertensive medications at baseline. "Any proteinuria" was defined as proteinuria detected for the first time during the follow-up period regardless of its frequency. "Persistent proteinuria" was defined as proteinuria that was detected at least twice consecutively at annual examinations and did not return to negative until the end of the follow-up. RESULTS: During the 11-year follow-up period, 1,972 cases of any proteinuria and 151 cases of persistent proteinuria were confirmed. Both lower and higher BMI were associated with the risk of any proteinuria. As for persistent proteinuria, in those with a BMI ≥20 kg/m2, higher BMI was associated with a higher risk of future persistent proteinuria. The association between BMI and the risk of persistent proteinuria was stronger than that between BMI and any proteinuria. In multiple-adjusted model, hazard ratios of persistent proteinuria for BMI <18.0, 18.0-19.9, 20.0-21.9, 22.0-23.9, 24.0-25.9, 26.0-27.9, and ≥28.0 kg/m2 were 1.52 (95% confidence interval 0.51-4.49), 1.07 (0.49-2.29), 1.00 (reference), 1.14 (0.64-2.01), 1.89 (1.09-3.27), 2.12 (1.15-3.93), and 3.85 (2.03-7.30), respectively. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: In those with a BMI ≥20 kg/m2, higher BMI was associated with a higher risk of future persistent proteinuria and any proteinuria. This relationship was stronger for persistent proteinuria than for any proteinuria.

Selectivity of Ca2+ channel blockers for dilator actions on the isolated lower esophageal sphincter and aorta from rats.

We compared dilator actions of representative four Ca2+ channel blockers on the isolated lower esophagus sphincter (LES) and thoracic aorta from rats. Verapamil, diltiazem, nifedipine and cilnidipine suppressed KCl-induced contractions of LES and thoracic aorta in a concentration-dependent manner. The order of selectivity for LES, which was calculated as ratio of IC50 value for thoracic aorta divided by that for LES, was diltiazem > verapamil > nifedipine > cilnidipine. These results suggest that diltiazem more preferentially dilates the LES whereas cilnidipine is expected to have lower potential risk of gastroesophageal dysfunction during the antihypertensive therapy.

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on postoperative morbidity of left lobe donor in living donor adult liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), donor safety has top priority, and donor morbidity should be minimized to zero. However, several corporal problems still remain. The effect of hyperbaric oxygenation treatment (HBO) was evaluated for donor morbidity in LDLT. METHODOLOGY: A total of 14 consecutive donors were studied. The donors into were divided into 2 groups as follows: HBO group (n=7), which started HBO 3 days after operation, and a control group (n=7). Patient's factors, graft volume, liver regeneration rate, liver function tests and postoperative complications ware compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in whole liver, graft and remnant liver volume. The incidence of wound numbness on POD 28 was 86% (6/7) in the control group and 29% (2/7) in the HBO group (p<0.05). Postoperative hospital stay was 14.4 and 14.6 days in the control and HBO group, respectively (p=NS). On POD 14, AST value in the HBO group was significantly lower than in the control group (p<0.05). PT% value in the HBO group was significantly higher than in the control group on POD 14 (p<0.05). Total bilirubin level in the HBO group was significantly lower than in the control group on POD 14 and 28 (p<0.05), and total bile acid value in the HBO group was significantly lower than the control group (p<0.05) on POD 14. Albumin level in the HBO group was significantly higher than the control group on POD 7, 10 and 28 (p<0.05). Four weeks after the operation, the regeneration rate was significantly higher in the HBO group than in the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Liver regeneration was promoted by HBO preserving a function in LDLT using left lobe graft. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy seems to be very useful to LDLT.

Prognostic significance of FLT3 internal tandem duplication and NPM1 mutations in acute myeloid leukemia in an unselected patient population.

Mutations in the fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene containing an internal tandem duplication (FLT3/ITD) or mutations in the nucleophosmin 1 gene (NPM1) are thought to be prognostic indicators in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Previous studies suggested that FLT3/ITD mutation indicates a poor prognosis and that NPM1 mutation indicates a more favorable one, but these studies were often performed with selected patient populations. We investigated the clinical significance of these mutations at our institution with an unselected group of patients with newly diagnosed AML. This group included patients > or =60 years old and those with a poor performance status. Using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing analyses, we detected FLT3/ITD mutations in 12 patients (20.0%) and NPM1 mutations in 7 patients (11.7%) among a group of 60 patients. There was a nonsignificant trend for FLT3/ITD mutation to be associated with a poorer predicted overall survival (OS) probability in this population. In contrast, OS was significantly higher in patients with wild-type NPM1 than in patients with NPM1 mutation, both for all AML patients and for AML patients with a normal karyotype. In this general and unselected AML patient population, NPM1 mutation was not a prognostic indicator of a favorable outcome.

Clinicopathological characteristics and outcome indicators of stage II gastric cancer according to the Japanese classification of gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The characteristics of stage II gastric cancer according to the Japanese Classification of Gastric Cancer (JCGC) were examined and the high-risk factors predicting poor prognosis were detected. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In total, 107 patients, who underwent clinically curative gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy for stage II gastric cancer, were included. Survival curves of the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, the ratio of involved: resected lymph nodes and chemotherapy treatment were compared. RESULTS: The survival curves were related to tumor invasion depth and lymph node metastasis. The ratio of involved resected lymph nodes was a good prognostic indicator compared to the classification of regional lymph node metastasis (N classification). Survival rates with adjuvant chemotherapy were slightly higher than without adjuvant chemotherapy, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: pT2pN1 (stage II) gastric cancers according to the JCGC, especially pSSpN1 cases, included stage IIIB and IV gastric cancers according to the International Union Against Cancer / American Joint Committee on Cancer (UICC/AJCC); therefore, the prognosis of these might be poor. With pSSpN1 cases, according to the JCGC, anticancer chemotherapy equivalent to that required for stage III gastric cancer cases is necessary.

Factors predicting long-term responses to splenectomy in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder for which appropriate diagnostic treatments are uncertain. The response to splenectomy varies from 60% to 90%, and the remaining patients relapse and require further treatment. Therefore, it is important to predict the outcome of splenectomy before and after surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of splenectomy in patients diagnosed with ITP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1988 to 2004, we splenectomized 32 patients with ITP; 17 underwent laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) and 15 underwent conventional open splenectomy (OS). For analysis, patients were separated retrospectively into two groups: the "responding group," those who showed good outcomes with splenectomy, and the "non-responding group," those who did not show good outcomes with splenectomy. Blood samples were examined before and immediately after surgery (day 0) and on postoperative days (POD) 1, 3, 5, and 7. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 8.3 years (range: 1-16 years). The overall 5- and 10-year survival rates after splenectomy were 96.9% (one death). The responding group included 24 patients (75%), and the non-responding group included 7 (21.9%). Platelet counts in the responding group increased gradually until POD 7, and although platelet counts in the non-responding group were almost constant until POD 5, they subsequently decreased until POD 7. Average platelet counts in the responding and non-responding groups were 269 and 124 x 10(9)/l on POD 7, respectively (P < 0.05). The pre- to post-surgery ratio of platelet counts were almost the same as the result of the actual data. Platelet counts during the long-term follow-up for the responding and non-responding groups were related to those noted on discharge. CONCLUSIONS: A high platelet count on POD 7 was associated with a good response to splenectomy, but age at surgery, the time interval between diagnosis and splenectomy, and prior responses to corticosteroid were not. We suggest that long-term outcomes of splenectomy can easily be predicted by platelet counts on POD 7.

Clinical characteristics and surgical treatment of perianal and perineal rhabdomyosarcoma: analysis of Japanese patients and comparison with IRSG reports.

Rhabdomyosarcomas of the perianal and perineal regions are uncommon. This study was performed to clarify the clinical characteristics and guidelines of surgical treatment of patients with perianal and perineal rhabdomyosarcomas younger than 20 years of age. Twenty-nine patients, 26 patients identified in the Japanese literature and three of our own, were analyzed and the results were compared with the data reported from the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group (IRSG). Female predominance and a twin-peak age distribution in infancy and adolescence were characteristic findings of the Japanese patients that were not observed in the IRSG studies. The demographic differences between the two groups were attributed to the differences in demographics of patients younger than 10 years of age. Of the 29 patients, 17 were categorized into clinical groups III/IV and 21 patients into stages 3/4. Alveolar histology was diagnosed in 18 patients. In patients more than 10 years of age, the female predominance was more prominent and the incidences of advanced clinical groups/stages and alveolar histology were significantly higher than those in patients younger than 10 years of age. Inguinal lymph nodes were always involved in patients with lymph node metastases and three patients developed metastases to the breast. Information regarding the survival time was available for 18 patients and the 5-year overall survival was 20%. Two patients with a group I/stage 2 tumor and one with a group II/stage 3 tumor survived for more than 2 years with no evidence of the disease. In these patients, the tumors were excised by primary surgery or primary reexcision and they were not accompanied by lymph node metastasis. Based on these data, complete tumor resection prior to chemotherapy should be pursued and the inguinal lymph nodes should be at least sampled because nodal involvement is closely associated with the patient's prognosis.

Secretion and expression of epithelial markers supports the biliary origin of solitary nonparasitic cyst of the liver in infancy.

Solitary nonparasitic cyst of the liver (SNPCL) is rare in children. Although there are several hypotheses regarding the pathogenesis, the true origin of SNPCL remains unknown. The authors present an infant with a huge SNPCL in whom the epithelial markers, CA19-9, DU-PAN-2, and SPan-1, were elevated in the serum and cystic fluid. The presence of CA19-9 and DU-PAN-2 was shown by immunohistochemistry in the cystic epithelia. These indicate that the classical idea of biliary origin of SNPCL is supported.

[Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for chemotherapy-resistant T-prolymphocytic leukemia].

A 34-year-old female was referred to our hospital for the evaluation of atypical lymphocytosis. Leukocyte count at diagnosis was 17,900/microl with 58% atypical lymphocytes having a convoluted nucleus and prominent nucleoli. Because the leukocyte count increased to 43,600/microl, the patient was treated with 2'deoxycoformycin followed by CHOP combination chemotherapy. However, both treatments failed to achieve remission. We planned an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from an HLA-matched unrelated donor. The patient was treated with Ara-C and etoposide before conditioning to decrease the high leukemia burden. After administration of total body irradiation (12 Gy in six fractions) and cyclophosphamide (total dose of 120 mg/kg) unmanipulated marrow cells were infused. Under prevention of GVHD by CsA and short-term MTX, leukocyte engraft was prompt at day 16, and acute GVHD grade II was observed. Because 9.4% of residual recipient type T-cells was seen with STR analysis on day 22, we decreased the dose of Cs'A. After the occurrence of mild acute GVHD, the residual T-cell number decreased. The patient is still in complete remission for up to 22 months after BMT. We conclude that allogeneic SCT is effective for the treatment of T-PLL.

Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy in children with uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis.

PURPOSE: To address whether laparoscopic appendectomy could be an alternative to conventional open appendectomy in children with complicated appendicitis as well as uncomplicated appendicitis, a retrospective study comparing laparoscopic and open appendectomies was performed. METHODS: One hundred patients who were treated by immediate appendectomy, either laparoscopically or by the open method, between May 2000 and August 2003 were included in the study. There were 53 patients in the laparoscopic appendectomy group and 47 patients in the open appendectomy group. RESULTS: The operating time was significantly longer for laparoscopic appendectomy than for open appendectomy (P < .001). The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in laparoscopic appendectomy in patients with uncomplicated appendicitis (P = .001). Thirteen of the 100 patients (13.0%) had 15 postoperative complications including wound infection (n = 8), intraabdominal abscess (n = 4), stitch abscess (n = 2), and small bowel obstruction (n = 1). In both uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis, there was no significant difference between laparoscopic and open appendectomies in the complication rates, and the incidences of each complication did not differ between the procedures. Among the 14 patients with generalized peritonitis, postoperative complications were seen in 5 patients (35.7%). Although the presence of generalized peritonitis was associated significantly with postoperative complications (P = .017), there was no significant association between the procedure and complications. Overall treatment costs were increased by 26.0% in laparoscopic appendectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic appendectomy should remain an option in children with uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis, and when laparoscopy is selected, consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of the procedure is essential.