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1.
Keio J Med ; 67(2): 26-34, 2018 Jun 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29162770

ABSTRACT

In this study, we investigated the correlations between biochemical and hematological test results obtained using microliter-scale fingertip blood samples collected with a newly developed blood collection device and those obtained using conventional venous blood. Eighty volunteer subjects were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were drawn from the fingertip of the ring finger by a single puncture, and 60-µL samples were promptly and accurately aspirated into a blood collection chip. Then the chip was tightly sealed in a chip container and was shaken to mix the contents without dispersion. For biochemical tests other than that for HbA1c, blood was collected without anticoagulant and centrifuged to obtain 15 µL of serum which was then diluted with 190 µL of physiological saline for the assay. For hematological tests and the test for HbA1c, the sample was assayed with blood collected using EDTA-2 K. Good correlations were obtained between the test results of the assay using fingertip blood and that using venous blood. The correlation coefficients were ≥0.97 for TG, T-CHO, HDL-C, LDL-C, GLU, ALT, γ-GTP, UA, BUN, and HbA1c and ≥0.95 for WBC, RBC, Hgb, and Hct. These results suggest that our microliter-scale blood testing system is comparable to assays using venous blood and may be useful as a rapid and simple test to determine basic clinical parameters that are close to the reference intervals.


Subject(s)
Blood Cell Count/methods , Blood Cell Count/standards , Blood Specimen Collection/methods , Blood Specimen Collection/standards , Adult , Aged , Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood , Blood Cell Count/instrumentation , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Blood Specimen Collection/instrumentation , Cholesterol, HDL/blood , Cholesterol, LDL/blood , Female , Fingers/blood supply , Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism , Healthy Volunteers , Hematocrit , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Reference Values , Triglycerides/blood , gamma-Glutamyltransferase/blood
2.
Rinsho Byori ; 65(3): 252-259, 2017 03.
Article in Japanese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30802007

ABSTRACT

In this study, we investigated the correlations of values of biochemical and hematological tests obtained using microliter-scale fingertip blood samples collected with a newly developed blood collection device with those using conventional venous blood. Eighty volunteer subjects were enrolled in the study. Blood sam- ples were drawn from the fingertip of the ring finger by a single puncture and 60 µL of each sample was promptly and accurately aspirated into a blood collection chip. Then the chip was tightly sealed with chip container and was shaken to mix the contents without dispersing. For biochemical tests except of HbAlc, blood was collected without anticoagulant and centrifuged to obtain 15 µL of serum which was then diluted with 190 pL of physiological saline for the assay. For hematological tests and HbAlc, the sample was as- sayed with blood collected using EDTA-2K. As a result, a good correlation of the test values was obtained between the assay with fingertip blood and that with venous blood. The correlation coefficients were found to be 0.97 in TG, T-CHO, HDL-C, LDL-C, GLU, ALT, γ-GTP, UA, BUN and HbAlc and ≥ 0.95 for WBC, RBC, Hgb, and Hct. These results suggest that our microliter-scale blood testing can be comparable to the assay using venous blood and may be useful as a rapid and simple test for determination of basic clinical tests near the reference intervals. [Original].


Subject(s)
Blood Specimen Collection , Anticoagulants , Blood Specimen Collection/methods , Fingers , Humans , Reference Values
4.
Clin Chim Acta ; 447: 105-14, 2015 Jul 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25987309

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: With nationwide standardization of laboratory tests among institutions for health screening in Japan, common reference intervals (RIs) were derived from records of 1,500,000 health check attendees. METHODS: Targets were 20 basic laboratory tests including body mass index (BMI) and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP, DBP). Individuals fulfilling the following strict criteria were chosen: SBP<130, DBP<85mmHg, BMI<25kg/m(2), non-smoking, ethanol consumption<20g/day and under no mediation with no remarkable current/past illnesses. The latent abnormal values exclusion (LAVE) method was applied to ensure fully normal results. RIs were derived by parametric method using modified Box-Cox power transformation. RESULTS: Among all attendees, 23% fulfilled the criteria. Application of the LAVE method further reduced the dataset by 40%-50%. Age-related charts of test results differed greatly between genders in almost all tests. Comparison of derived RIs with clinical decision limits (CDLs) revealed that the upper limits of RIs differed from CDLs according to gender and age. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of gender and age-specific RIs derived from individuals with fully normal health attributes will (1) enable appropriate interpretation of test results in health screening and (2) promote judicious application of CDLs for therapeutic intervention, taking into account gender, age and other health attributes.


Subject(s)
Health/standards , Mass Screening/standards , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Clinical Decision-Making , Female , Humans , Japan , Male , Middle Aged , Reference Values , Sex Factors
5.
Rinsho Byori ; 60(7): 653-9, 2012 Jul.
Article in Japanese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22973726

ABSTRACT

The Japan Accreditation Board (JAB) mainly involves the ISO 15189 accreditation system with support from the Japanese Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (JCCLS). The currently available procedure to obtain accreditation is as below. Firstly, it is necessary for applicants to prepare ISO 15189 and related documents in each laboratory. Then a JAB assessor will conduct a preliminary assessment to check if the applicant is ready to be accredited. Subsequently, a team consisting of one to five JAB assessors and/or technical experts will conduct the initial assessment, usually for two days. Finally, the team will make a recommendation to the JAB Accreditation Committee for Medical Laboratory on its evaluation for accreditation. If the Accreditation Committee approves the recommendation of the assessment team, the applicant will be granted accreditation and issued with a certificate of accreditation. According to EU data in February 2011, about 1,300 medical laboratories obtained the ISO 15189 accreditation. The numbers of accredited laboratories are 482 in Germany, 276 in England, 209 in France, 100 in Czechoslovakia etc. Similarly, the data for the Asia-Pacific region in June 2011 showed that the numbers of accredited laboratories are 638 in Australia, 287 in India, 220 in Canada, 160 in Taiwan etc. Although 59 laboratories are accredited in Japan, the ISO 15189 accreditation is not so widespread compared with other countries. It is now expected that the government and/or related bodies will have sufficient understanding of this accreditation system to further its development in Japan. [Rinsho Byori 60: 653-659, 2012]


Subject(s)
Accreditation/standards , Clinical Competence/standards , Laboratories/standards , International Agencies , Japan , Quality Assurance, Health Care
6.
Jpn J Antibiot ; 59(4): 217-315, 2006 Aug.
Article in Japanese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17111595

ABSTRACT

The bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) isolated from patients diagnosed as urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 14 institutions in Japan were collected between August 2004 and July 2005. The susceptibilities of these bacteria to various antimicrobial agents were measured. The bacteria were divided into 2 groups consisting of uncomplicated UTIs and complicated UTIs (with and without indwelling catheter) based on their isolation origins. The results were compared with those obtained between 1995 and 2003. The drug sensitivity of S. aureus in this year was similar to those in up to the previous year and S. aureus showed the best susceptibility to vancomycin (VCM) and arbekacin (ABK). The drug sensitivity of E. faecalis in this year also was similar to those in up to the previous year. The susceptibility of E. coli to cephems in this year was generally good and was similar to those in up to the previous year. MIC90 of cefozopran (CZOP) was the most stable and 0.125 microg/mL or less since 1995. The susceptibility of E. coli to cefpirome (CPR) and cefotiam (CTM) also was good but to cefaclor (CCL), cefixime (CFIX), and cefpodoxime (CPDX) was largely decreased in complicated UTI groups. The sensitivity of E. coli to carbapenems also was good but to carumonam (CRMN) tended to decrease. The susceptibility of E. coli to quinolones, however, has largely changed and has decreased since 2003 in uncomplicated UTIs and 2000 in complicated UTIs. That was suggested the development of the resistance to the drug. The susceptibility of Klebsiella spp. to cefazolin (CEZ), CTM, CCL, CPDX, and cefditoren (CDTR) decreased in the previous year and recovered to the year before the previous year in this year. The susceptibility of Klebsiella spp. to other cephems was stable since 1995, especially against CZOP, the highest sensitivity (MIC90: < or = 0.125 microg/mL) was maintained. The susceptibility of Klebsiella spp. to carbapenems and CRMN also was good. The susceptibility of Klebsiella spp. to aminoglycosides was lower than to CZOP but was stable since 1995. The susceptibility of P. aeruginosa was generally low and has largely changed against the majority of the agents since 1995. The susceptibility of P. aeruginosa isolated from uncomplicated UTIs has largely changed against ceftazidime (CAZ), cefsulodin (CFS), CZOP, imipenem (IPM), meropenem (MEPM), aztreonam (AZT), CRMN, gentamicin (GM), and tobramycin (TOB). The susceptibility of P. aeruginosa isolated from complicated UTIs has largely changed against CSF, CZOP, MEPM, GM, and ciprofloxacin (CPFX). The susceptibility of P. aeruginosa isolated from complicated UTIs has been stable against amikacin (AMK). For annual changes in MIC50, TOB and IPM had a relatively stable and high activity (MIC50: 0.5-2 microg/mL).


Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Enterococcus faecalis/drug effects , Escherichia coli/drug effects , Klebsiella/drug effects , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/drug effects , Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects , Urinary Tract Infections/microbiology , Catheters, Indwelling , Drug Resistance, Bacterial , Enterococcus faecalis/isolation & purification , Escherichia coli/isolation & purification , Humans , Klebsiella/isolation & purification , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/isolation & purification , Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification
7.
Brain Res ; 1121(1): 246-9, 2006 Nov 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17022953

ABSTRACT

The human lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (OLR1/LOX-1) is the major endothelial scavenger receptor against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We investigated the G501C mutation in the OLR1 gene in 235 Japanese patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and 274 age- and sex-matched healthy controls using single nucleotide primer extension analysis (SNuPe). There was no significant difference in the polymorphism between patients with ischemic CVD and controls (GC+CC versus GG, p=0.48). The C allele was not significantly different between the patients and controls (C versus G, p=0.91). Our results show that the OLR1 gene polymorphism has little effect on an increased risk for ischemic CVD in the Japanese population.


Subject(s)
Brain Ischemia/genetics , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Scavenger Receptors, Class E/genetics , Stroke/genetics , Humans , Japan , Risk Factors
8.
Jpn J Antibiot ; 59(3): 177-200, 2006 Jun.
Article in Japanese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16913404

ABSTRACT

The bacterial strains isolated from 490 patients diagnosed as having urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 14 institutions in Japan were collected between August 2004 and July 2005. The susceptibilities of them to many kinds of antimicrobial agents were measured. Of them, 577 strains were estimated as causative bacteria and used for the measurement. The strains consisted of 156 gram-positive bacterial strains (27.0%) and 421 gram-negative bacterial strains (73.0%). Against Staphylococcus aureus, arbekacin (ABK), vancomycin (VCM) showed the strongest activity and prevented the growth of all strains with 2 microg/mL. Against Enterococcus faecalis, ampicillin (ABPC) and VCM showed a strong antibacterial activity. The antibacterial activity of cephems to Escherichia coli was generally good, and especially cefozopran (CZOP) and cefpirome (CPR) showed the strongest activity (MIC90: < or = 125 microg/mL). Quinolone resistant E. coli [MIC of ciprofloxacin (CPFX): > or = 4 microg/mL] was detected at frequency of 18.8%, which was higher than that in the last year. Against Klebsiella pneumoniae, CZOP, meropenem (MEPM), and carumonam (CRMN) showed the strongest activity and prevented the growth of all strains with 0.125 microg/mL or less. The antibacterial activity of the other cephems was relatively good, and decrease in their activity observed in the last year study was not recognized. Against Serratia marcescens, imipenem (IPM) and gentamicin (GM) had the strongest antibacterial activity. Against Proteus mirabilis, CRMN showed the strongest activity and prevented the growth of all strains with 0.125 microg/mL or less. MEPM prevented the growth of all strains with 0.25 microg/mL. Next, cefmenoxime (CMX), ceftazidime (CAZ), CZOP, cefixime (CFIX), cefpodoxime (CPDX), and cefditoren (CDTR) showed a strong activity. The antibacterial activity of the drugs to Pseudomonas aeruginosa was generally low, and MIC90 of all the drugs was ranged from 32 to > 128 microg/mL except IPM and MEPM having 16 microg/mL. The antibacterial activities of CZOP and CAZ were considered to be relatively good on MIC50 comparison (MIC50: 2 microg/mL).


Subject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects , Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects , Urinary Tract Infections/microbiology , Aminoglycosides/pharmacology , Ampicillin/pharmacology , Aztreonam/analogs & derivatives , Aztreonam/pharmacology , Cefixime/pharmacology , Ceftizoxime/analogs & derivatives , Ceftizoxime/pharmacology , Cephalosporins/pharmacology , Dibekacin/analogs & derivatives , Dibekacin/pharmacology , Drug Resistance, Bacterial , Enterococcus faecalis/drug effects , Escherichia coli/drug effects , Gentamicins/pharmacology , Humans , Imipenem/pharmacology , Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects , Meropenem , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Proteus mirabilis/drug effects , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/drug effects , Quinolones/pharmacology , Serratia marcescens/drug effects , Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects , Thienamycins/pharmacology , Vancomycin/pharmacology , Cefpirome , Cefozopran , Cefpodoxime
9.
Jpn J Antibiot ; 59(3): 201-13, 2006 Jun.
Article in Japanese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16913405

ABSTRACT

Six hundred six bacterial strains isolated from 490 patients diagnosed as having urinary tract infections (UTIs) in 14 institutions in Japan were collected between August 2004 and July 2005. The frequency of bacteria isolation stratified with patient clinical background was compared. The clinical background investigated included sex, age, type of infections, timing of antibiotics administration, and presence or absence of surgery affecting a decrease in defense against infection. The bacterial strains were stratified with the age and sex of the patients and the types of infections. In males, the number of patients aged less than 60 years was few and the complicated UTIs without indwelling catheter was observed most frequently. In females, the number of patients aged less than 60 years was comparatively more than in males. In all of ages except 0-19 and > or = 80 years, the ratio of the uncomplicated UTIs was high, accounting for 44.1-90.0% of all types of infections. In the present time, the bacteria most frequently isolated were Escherichia coli. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis also were relatively frequently isolated. E. coli most frequently isolated with the uncomplicated UTIs and P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis most frequently isolated with the complicated UTIs. With respect to the relation of these results to the age of the patients, in the uncomplicated UTIs, the isolation frequency of E. coli was the highest in all age groups except 0-19 years, accounting for 50% or higher. In the complicated UTIs without indwelling catheter, the isolation frequency of E. coli tended to be high in all age groups. In the complicated UTIs with indwelling catheter, P. aeruginosa were more frequently isolated. In comparison of causative bacteria in UTIs between before and after the administration of antibiotics, P. aeruginosa increased after the administration in any types of UTIs. In comparison of causative bacteria in UTIs with or without surgery, E. coli was more frequently isolated in the patients without surgery, while P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis were more frequently isolated in the patients with surgery in any UTIs.


Subject(s)
Urinary Tract Infections/microbiology , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Catheters, Indwelling , Enterococcus faecalis/isolation & purification , Escherichia coli/isolation & purification , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/isolation & purification , Sex Factors , Urinary Tract Infections/drug therapy
10.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun ; 348(2): 669-72, 2006 Sep 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16890917

ABSTRACT

Genetic variation, a -1327T/C polymorphism, of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is associated with leukocyte telomere length in healthy subjects, but clinical significances of this functional polymorphism are not clear. Recently, the relationship between the telomere system and coronary artery disease (CAD) was reported. We investigated the association between the -1327T/C polymorphism and (a) susceptibility to CAD and (b) telomere length in CAD patients. In a case-control study, 104 patients confirmed by coronary angiography and 115 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. There was a higher frequency of the -1327C/C genotype in CAD patients (51.9%) compared with controls (36.5%, p = 0.0218). Among the 104 CAD patients, leukocyte telomere length in the -1327C/C genotype (7.62+/-2.19 kb, mean+/-SD) was shorter than that in the -1327T/C and -1327T/T genotypes (8.74+/-2.92, p = 0.0287). These findings suggest that the -1327C/C genotype is a genetic risk factor for CAD and relates to shorter telomere length among CAD patients.


Subject(s)
Coronary Artery Disease/genetics , Telomerase/genetics , Case-Control Studies , Coronary Artery Disease/enzymology , Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Polymorphism, Genetic , Risk Factors , Telomere/chemistry
11.
Brain Res ; 1108(1): 221-3, 2006 Sep 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16843446

ABSTRACT

E-selectin, which is a member of the selectin superfamily of adhesion molecules, contributes to the leukocyte-endothelial cell attachments and is involved in the pathogenesis of thrombovascular diseases as a consequence. We investigated the A561C mutation in the E-selectin gene in 235 Japanese patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and 301 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Excluding the subjects with diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia, the AC genotype frequencies of patients with ischemic CVD were higher than those of controls: 12.7% vs. 5.8% (P=0.04). Our results show that E-selectin gene polymorphisms represent an increased risk for ischemic CVD in the Japanese population without diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia.


Subject(s)
Brain Ischemia/genetics , Cerebral Arteries/metabolism , Cerebrovascular Disorders/genetics , E-Selectin/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics , Aged , Brain Ischemia/ethnology , Brain Ischemia/metabolism , Cell Adhesion/genetics , Cerebral Arteries/physiopathology , Cerebrovascular Disorders/ethnology , Cerebrovascular Disorders/metabolism , Chemotaxis, Leukocyte/genetics , Diabetes Complications/ethnology , Diabetes Complications/genetics , Diabetes Complications/metabolism , Female , Humans , Hypercholesterolemia/ethnology , Hypercholesterolemia/genetics , Hypercholesterolemia/metabolism , Intracranial Thrombosis/ethnology , Intracranial Thrombosis/genetics , Intracranial Thrombosis/metabolism , Japan/ethnology , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Factors
12.
Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis ; 17(3): 203-7, 2006 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16575258

ABSTRACT

We used the Gorog Thrombosis Test to analyze the factors influencing the occlusion time, which represents platelet activation and subsequent occlusive thrombus formation, in 132 healthy Japanese volunteers (116 men, 16 women; mean age, 45.0 +/- 12.0 years). The Gorog Thrombosis Test was designed to evaluate platelet aggregation and thrombolytic activity under a high shear stress condition (175 dynes/cm) in a native blood sample in vitro. The mean +/- SD occlusion time was 154.8 +/- 64.7 s (men, 153.4 +/- 64.2 s and women, 165.4 +/- 56.5 s). The occlusion time was inversely correlated with von Willebrand factor ristocetin cofactor activity (VWF:Rco) (r = -0.242, P = 0.0055) and von Willebrand factor antigen (r = -0.230, P = 0.0080). The mean occlusion time in the group with VWF:Rco of at least 170% (137 s) was significantly shorter than that in the group with VWF:Rco less than 170% (156 s, P < 0.05). Platelet counts, other coagulation markers and smoking showed no significant correlations with occlusion time. Red blood cells (r = -0.177, P = 0.0365), hemoglobin (r = -0.191, P = 0.0245) and hematocrit (r = -0.182, P = 0.0329) also showed inverse correlations with the occlusion time. This report is the first to clearly demonstrate the role of von Willebrand factor in the formation of occlusive thrombi in the Gorog Thrombosis Test.


Subject(s)
Blood Coagulation/physiology , Platelet Aggregation/physiology , Thrombosis/blood , Adult , Blood Coagulation Tests , Female , Fibrinolysis/physiology , Humans , In Vitro Techniques , Male , Middle Aged , Platelet Activation/physiology , Platelet Function Tests , Reference Values , Ristocetin/analysis , Stress, Mechanical , von Willebrand Factor/analysis
13.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun ; 341(1): 128-31, 2006 Mar 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16412982

ABSTRACT

Transcriptional regulation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), a catalytic subunit of telomerase, is essential for telomerase activity associated with telomere length. In this study, we investigated the effects of a (-1327)T/C polymorphism within the hTERT promoter region on the hTERT promoter activity and leukocyte telomere length in normal individuals. The promoter activity in the (-1327)T-sequence was significantly higher than that in the (-1327)C-sequence (p = 0.0004). For leukocyte telomere length, the (-1327)T-allele carriers had significantly longer than the (-1327)T-allele non-carriers (p = 0.0007). Also, there was no age-related shortening in leukocyte telomere length in the (-1327)T/T (p = 0.6633) and (-1327)T/C subjects (p = 0.1691), whereas there was clear age-related telomere shortening in the (-1327)C/C subjects (p = 0.0117). These findings suggest that the functional (-1327)T/C polymorphism of hTERT is associated with leukocyte telomere length in normal individuals.


Subject(s)
DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Leukocytes/metabolism , Telomerase/genetics , Telomere/genetics , Transcription, Genetic/genetics , Transcriptional Activation/genetics , Base Sequence , Cells, Cultured , Genetic Variation/genetics , Humans , Molecular Sequence Data , Polymorphism, Genetic , Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics
14.
Jpn J Antibiot ; 59(6): 428-51, 2006 Dec.
Article in Japanese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17334061

ABSTRACT

A total of 18,639 clinical isolates in 19 species collected from 77 centers during 2004 in Japan were tested for their susceptibility to fluoroquinolones (FQs) and other selected antibiotics. The common respiratory pathogens, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae showed a high susceptible rate against FQs. The isolation rate of beta lactamase non-producing ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae was approximately three times as large as those of western countries. Most strains of Enterobacteriaceae were also susceptible to FQs. The resistance rate of Escherichia coli against FQs has however been rapidly increasing so far as we surveyed since 1994. The FQs-resistant rate in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) showed approximately 90% except for 36%. of sitafloxacin while FQs-resistant rate in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) was around 5%. The FQs-resistant rate of methicillin-resistant coagulase negative Staphylococci (MRCNS) was also higher than that of methicillin-susceptible coagulase negative Staphylococci (MSCNS), however, it was lower than that of MRSA. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates, 32-34% from UTI and 15-19% of from RTI was resistant to FQs. Acinetobacter spp. showed a high susceptibility to FQs. Although FQs-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae have not been increased in western countries, it is remarkably high in Japan. In this survey, isolates of approximately 85% was resistant to FQs.


Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects , Gram-Negative Bacteria/isolation & purification , Gram-Positive Cocci/drug effects , Gram-Positive Cocci/isolation & purification , Gram-Positive Rods/drug effects , Gram-Positive Rods/isolation & purification , Drug Resistance, Microbial , Fluoroquinolones/pharmacology , Humans , Japan , Time Factors
16.
Am J Hypertens ; 18(12 Pt 1): 1556-62, 2005 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16364825

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Recent genetic studies have shown an association between the T-786C polymorphism in the endothelial NO synthase gene and coronary artery diseases, but any possible association with hypertension has been controversial. Other studies indicate the effect of restricting salt intake differ depending on individual salt-sensitivity, and the mixture of different sensitivity in study subjects may obscure the results. The objective of this study was to investigate the gene-environment interaction between the salt intake and this polymorphism. METHODS: We genotyped 281 healthy men after excluding 37 men on hypertensive therapy (mean age 44.8 +/- 11.9 years) for the mutation, and evaluated their daily salt intake using a validated food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: A quartile classification of salt intake revealed that the blood pressure of subjects with the mutation was significantly higher than that of subjects without the mutation, but only in the 4th quartile (the highest intake group). A multiple logistic regression analysis also showed that the presence of this mutation increased the risk of hypertension only in the 4th quartile (adjusted odds ratio = 6.38, P = .025). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of this mutation alone does not significantly increase the risk of hypertension. However, high salt intake interacts with the mutation and leads to a significant increase in the risk of hypertension. The T-786C mutation warrants being considered a candidate for further study with the aim of tailor-made hypertension prevention.


Subject(s)
Hypertension/genetics , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/genetics , Sodium Chloride, Dietary/pharmacology , Adult , Blood Pressure/drug effects , Genotype , Humans , Hypertension/etiology , Japan , Male , Middle Aged , Polymorphism, Genetic , Regression Analysis , Risk Factors , Sodium Chloride, Dietary/administration & dosage
17.
J Epidemiol ; 15(6): 203-10, 2005 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16276029

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the interaction between the Trp64Arg polymorphism of the beta3-adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB3) and environmental factors. This study aimed to investigate whether energy intake affects the relationship between this polymorphism and obesity. METHODS: Healthy Japanese men (n=295; age 46.1+/-11.5 years (mean +/-standard deviation); waist circumference 83.9+/-9.3 cm; body mass index (BMI) 23.3+/-3.3 kg/m2) recruited in a Japanese chemical industry firm were eligible for analysis. Daily energy intake, protein, fat, and carbohydrate (PFC) ratio and daily physical activity were assessed by self-reported questionnaires. Genotyping for the polymorphism was performed with written informed consent. RESULTS: When the subjects were classified into two groups according to presence of the polymorphism, the groups were not significantly different in waist circumference or BMI. Quartile classification of energy intake, however, demonstrated a significantly larger ratio of obese subjects to non-obese subjects in the group with the polymorphism in the highest 4th quartile alone. Multiple logistic regression analysis also revealed that the presence of the polymorphism increased the risk of obesity significantly in the 4th quartile alone (adjusted odds ratio=3.37, 95% confidence interval=1.12-10.2). CONCLUSION: Presence of the polymorphism alone does not significantly increase the risk of obesity. However, high energy intake interacts with the polymorphism and leads to a significant increase in risk of obesity. The Trp64Arg polymorphism of ADRB3 warrants consideration, along with other polymorphisms involved in the development of obesity, for tailor-made prevention of obesity.


Subject(s)
Energy Intake , Obesity/etiology , Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3/genetics , Body Mass Index , Humans , Japan , Male , Middle Aged , Obesity/genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic , Risk Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires
18.
J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth ; 19(5): 603-7, 2005 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16202893

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) affects hepatocellular integrity and occasionally results in liver dysfunction after cardiac surgery. Performing coronary artery bypass graft surgery without CPB may help to reduce the risk of this complication and better preserve perioperative liver function. This study compared perioperative hepatocellular damage in patients undergoing on-pump and off-pump bypass surgery. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients scheduled for elective on-pump (n = 21) and off-pump (n = 17) coronary artery bypass surgery. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Liver function was assessed by serum levels of alcohol dehydrogenase (AD) and alpha-glutathione S-transferase (alpha-GST), which serve as more sensitive indices of hepatocellular injury than do conventional transaminases. Arterial blood was sampled at 6 stages: after induction of anesthesia (baseline); at the end of CPB in the on-pump group or on completion of the last distal anastomosis in the off-pump group; at the end of surgery; and 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours after the end of anesthesia. The off-pump patients showed significantly lower increases in serum AD and alpha-GST levels than did the on-pump group. AD and alpha-GST values increased in the on-pump patients after the initiation of CPB and peaked at the end of surgery, with a return to baseline at 12 hours and 24 hours after the end of anesthesia. No clinically relevant liver dysfunction was observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: CPB induced transient subclinical hepatocellular damage, whereas off-pump revascularization attenuated this damage.


Subject(s)
Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump , Coronary Disease/surgery , Hepatolenticular Degeneration/etiology , Myocardial Revascularization , Aged , Alanine Transaminase/blood , Alcohol Dehydrogenase/blood , Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood , Cardiopulmonary Bypass/adverse effects , Coronary Disease/metabolism , Coronary Disease/physiopathology , Female , Glutathione Transferase/blood , Hepatolenticular Degeneration/metabolism , Hepatolenticular Degeneration/physiopathology , Humans , Liver/enzymology , Liver/physiopathology , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Postoperative Complications/metabolism , Postoperative Complications/physiopathology , Prospective Studies , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome
19.
Rinsho Byori ; 53(9): 818-24, 2005 Sep.
Article in Japanese | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16235834

ABSTRACT

In patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (Type 2 DM), the relationship between the prevalence rate of small dense LDL (sdLDL) and parameters of lipid metabolism was analyzed using the method devised by modified Krauss method using apoferritin as an internal standard. The prevalence rate of sdLDL was 34% compared with it of normal subjects in this study. When the severity of Type 2 DM was classified into three groups of the HbA1c value, neither the sdLDL size nor its prevalence rate differed significantly depending upon the severity of the Type 2 DM. Also, when the prevalence rate of sdLDL was analyzed in relation to the severity of complications, i.e., of microangiopathy (retinopathy and nephropathy) or macroangiopathy (cerebral infarction), there was no significant difference in the prevalence rate of sdLDL depending on the severity of any of these complications. On the other hand, the prevalence rate of sdLDL was found to be correlated with the serum TG level. The serum level of TG-rich remnants (metabolites of TG) was also high in patients with sdLDL. It should take notice that the assessment of sdLDL should be used the authorized method for the evaluation. Thus it is concluded that the levels of sdLDL were important in evaluation of Type 2 DM. The prevalence rate of sdLDL did not correlate with the severity, nor the modalities for the complications of Type 2 DM.


Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood , Lipoproteins, LDL/blood , Aged , Diabetes Complications/blood , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged
20.
J Hum Genet ; 50(5): 241-248, 2005.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15895286

ABSTRACT

This study aimed at assessing the effect of folic acid supplementation quantitatively in each MTHFR C677T genotype and considered the efficiency of tailor-made prevention of atherosclerosis. Study design was genotype-stratified, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. The setting was a Japanese company in the chemical industry. Subjects were 203 healthy men after exclusion of those who took folic acid or drugs known to effect folic acid metabolism. Intervention was folic acid 1 mg/day p.o. for 3 months. The primary endpoint was plasma total homocysteine level (tHcy). In all three genotypes, there were significant tHcy decreases. The greatest decrease was in the TT homozygote [6.61 (3.47-9.76) micromol/l] compared with other genotypes [CC: 2.59 (1.81-3.36), CT: 2.64 (2.16-3.13)], and there was a significant trend between the mutated allele number and the decrease. The tHcy were significantly lowered in all the genotypes, but the amount of the decrease differed significantly in each genotype, which was observed at both 1 and 3 months. Using these time-series data, the largest benefit obtained by the TT homozygote was appraised as 2.4 times compared with the CC homozygote. Taking into account the high allele frequency of this SNP, this quantitative assessment should be useful when considering tailor-made prevention of atherosclerosis with folic acid.


Subject(s)
Arteriosclerosis/genetics , Arteriosclerosis/prevention & control , Dietary Supplements , Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)/genetics , Mutation/genetics , Alleles , Arteriosclerosis/enzymology , Double-Blind Method , Folic Acid/blood , Folic Acid Deficiency , Genotype , Homocysteine/blood , Homozygote , Humans , Male , Middle Aged
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