Significant increase of prostaglandin E-major urinary metabolite in male smokers: a screening study of age and gender differences using a simple radioimmunoassay.

BACKGROUND: For the assessment of inflammatory status, we have developed a simple, reliable radioimmunoassay (RIA) of prostaglandin E-major urinary metabolite (PGE-MUM), which remains stable in urine after it is metabolized. Using this method, we conducted a screening study to compare standard values of PGE-MUM to serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in health check volunteers. METHODS: PGE-MUM (micrograms per gram creatinine) was measured in normal urine samples obtained from 797 samples in volunteers for health check, using a newly developed RIA, and analyzed in relation to age, gender, smoking, and drinking habits. Results were compared to serum CRP. RESULTS: PGE-MUM was significantly higher in males than in females. It was significantly higher in smoking males, compared to males who had never smoked (nonsmokers), particularly in those above 40 years of age. In nonsmokers, PGE-MUM declined in males with advancing age, while it rose in females. Although PGE-MUM reflected current smoking status, independent of smoking index (SI), serum CRP indicated both current and former smoking condition, rather dependent upon SI. CONCLUSIONS: PGE-MUM increases in smokers, as suggested by possible inflammatory injury of pulmonary tissue. This RIA method for PGE-MUM may be thus a sensitive and reliable biomarker for current inflammation, different from serum CRP.

Cut-off levels of salivary beta2-microglobulin and sodium differentiating patients with Sjögren's syndrome from those without it and healthy controls.

OBJECTIVES: For the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome (SS), cut-off levels of ß2-microglobulin (ß2MG) and sodium (Na+) in unstimulated whole saliva have not yet been shown. We aimed to determine the cut-off levels of salivary ß2MG and Na+ which differentiate SS patients from non-SS patients and healthy controls. METHODS: Seventy-one patients of primary SS (pSS, 69 females/2 males, 60.0±16.8 years old), 50 of secondary SS (sSS, 49/1, 55.8±17.4), 54 of connective tissue diseases other than SS (non-SS-CTD, 43/11, 60.0±16.0), and 75 healthy volunteers (HC, 43/32, 50.7±15.6) were included. Unstimulated whole saliva were examined for levels of ß2MG, Na+, potassium (K+), and chloride (Cl-). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was carried out. RESULTS: ß2MG, Na+, and Cl- levels in the SS group (pSS and sSS) were significantly higher than those in the non-SS group (non-SS-CTD and HC). The salivary ß2MG level was 5.3±4.6 mg/L in pSS, 5.1±2.0 in sSS, 2.5±2.1 in non-SS-CTD, and 1.2±0.7 in HC, respectively. The Na+ level was 39.2±25.2 mEq/L, 36.4±26.1, 19.6±16.8, and 16.5±7.3, and the Cl- level was 51.1±25.0, 47.8±24.3, 32.1±16.6, and 27.0±7.9 in the same order. The K+ level in the SS group was significantly higher than that in HC. The optimal cut-off ß2 MG and Na+ levels that differentiate the SS group from the non-SS group were 2.3 mg/L and 23 mEq/L. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary ß2MG and Na+ levels are useful markers for differentiating SS patients from non-SS-CTD patients and HC.

Study on the usefulness of high-molecular-weight (HMW)-Adiponectin level check of Japanese general population upon health check: comparison of carotid ultrasonography measurement.

OBJECTIVE: High-molecular-weight (HMW)-adiponectin is an active and powerful predictor of atherosclerosis. Unfortunately, there is currently no reliable epidemiological reference level data available in Japan. The current ELISA method for HMW-adiponectin measurement is tedious as it requires several sample pre-treatment steps. We studied the reference level of HMW-adiponectin measured by a simple, fully-automated CLEIA. DESIGN: The study subjects were 858 men and 793 women who underwent health check-ups at a Japanese Red Cross Medical Center. We investigated the relation between HMW-adiponectin and metabolic parameters, including carotid ultrasonography. RESULTS: The mean values of HMW-adiponectin were 3.11 ± 1.99 µg/ml in men, and 5.52 ± 3.07 µg/ml in women. There were significant differences (p<0.001) in relation to gender and age, where levels gradually increased with age. HMW-adiponectin was 3.18 ± 1.45 µg/ml in male subjects without carotid lesions, and 2.28 ± 0.90 µg/ml in male subjects with lesions. CONCLUSIONS: HMW-adiponectin measured by simple CLEIA could be useful for routine risk assessment.