Combination Analysis in Genetic Polymorphisms of Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A5 in the Japanese Population

The Cytochrome P450 is the major enzyme involved in drug metabolism. CYP enzymes are responsible for the metabolism of most clinically used drugs. Individual variability in CYP activity is one important factor that contributes to drug therapy failure. We have developed a new straightforward TaqMan PCR genotyping assay to investigate the prevalence of the most common allelic variants of polymorphic CYP enzymes CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A5 in the Japanese population. Moreover, we focused on the combination of each genotype for clinical treatment. The genotype analysis identified a total of 139 out of 483 genotype combinations of five genes in the 1,003 Japanese subjects. According to our results, most of subjects seemed to require dose modification during clinical treatment. In the near future, modifications should be considered based on the individual patient genotype of each treatment.     

Assessment of Effects of Air Pollution on Daily Outpatient Visits using the Air Quality Index

Background

The air quality index (AQI) is widely used to characterize the quality of ambient air. Chinese cities officially report the AQI on a daily basis. To assess the possible effects of air pollution on daily outpatient visits, we examined the association between AQI and the daily outpatient count.

Methods

Daily data on outpatient visits to each clinical department were collected from the Z county hospital of Datong City, China. The collection period was between 5 April and 30 June, 2012. Daily AQI data and meteorological information were simultaneously recorded. We compared outpatient counts between the index days and comparison days, and calculated Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient between outpatient counts and AQI levels.

Results

The average AQI level for index days was significantly higher than that for comparison days. No significant difference was observed in temperature or relative humidity between index days and comparison days. The outpatient counts for pediatrics were significantly higher on index days than on comparison days, and no significant difference was noted in other clinical departments. The outpatient counts for pediatrics positively correlated with the AQI level, and no correlation was noted in other clinical departments.

Conclusion

The present study assessed the association between daily outpatient visits and air pollution using AQI. The results obtained suggest that air pollution could increase the outpatient count for pediatrics.     

Tensile Properties and Fracture Behavior of Aluminum Alloy Foam Fabricated from Die Castings without Using Blowing Agent by Friction Stir Processing Route

Al foam has been used in a wide range of applications owing to its light weight, high energy absorption and high sound insulation. One of the promising processes for fabricating Al foam involves the use of a foamable precursor. In this study, ADC12 Al foams with porosities of 67%–78% were fabricated from Al alloy die castings without using a blowing agent by the friction stir processing route. The pore structure and tensile properties of the ADC12 foams were investigated and compared with those of commercially available ALPORAS. From X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) observations of the pore structure of ADC12 foams, it was found that they have smaller pores with a narrower distribution than those in ALPORAS. Tensile tests on the ADC12 foams indicated that as their porosity increased, the tensile strength and tensile strain decreased, with strong relation between the porosity, tensile strength, and tensile strain. ADC12 foams exhibited brittle fracture, whereas ALPORAS exhibited ductile fracture, which is due to the nature of the Al alloy used as the base material of the foams. By image-based finite element (FE) analysis using X-ray CT images corresponding to the tensile tests on ADC12 foams, it was shown that the fracture path of ADC12 foams observed in tensile tests and the regions of high stress obtained from FE analysis correspond to each other. Therefore, it is considered that the fracture behavior of ADC12 foams in relation to their pore structure distribution can be investigated by image-based FE analysis.     

Esophageal motor dysfunction plays a key role in GERD with globus sensation - Analysis of factors promoting resistance to PPI therapy

Abstract Objective. Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) also have various extra-esophageal symptoms. Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) is a subtype of GERD associated with globus sensation, but proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy achieves disappointing results. This study investigated esophageal motility in GERD patients with globus sensation who were resistant to PPI therapy. Design. The subjects were 350 patients with globus sensation. All patients underwent both laryngoscopy and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to exclude organic disease. After 4 weeks of treatment with rabeprazole sodium (20 mg daily), the patients were divided into PPI-responsive and PPI-resistant groups. Then we investigated esophageal motility in the PPI-resistant group by a multichannel intraluminal impedance and manometry study. Results. A total of 119 patients (55.6%) were resistant to PPI therapy, among whom 57 patients (47.9%) had abnormal esophageal motility. They included 36 patients (66.4%) with ineffective esophageal motility, 9 patients (14.4%) with achalasia, 6 patients (9.6%) with diffuse esophageal spasm, 5 patients (8%) with nutcracker esophagus, and 1 patient (1.6%) with hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter. There were significant differences of upper esophageal sphincter pressure and esophageal body peristalsis between the patients with PPI-resistant LPRD and healthy controls matched for age and sex. Conclusion. Among patients with PPI-resistant LPRD, 47.9% had abnormal esophageal motility.     

Blue laser imaging identifies endoscopic findings corresponding to metachronous esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophagus - This study aimed to evaluate endoscopic findings using non-magnifying blue laser imaging (BLI) to determine the risk factors for metachronous esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC)....