Health status of Indochinese refugees in Japan: statistical analyses on anemia, eosinophilia and serum alkaline phosphatase

Detailed statistical analyses were attempted on anemia, eosinophilia and elevation in serum alkaline phosphatase in the Indochinese refugees in Japan. A high statistical correlation was found between hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit for most of the refugees except the Cambodian females. Refugees with parasitic infections, particularly hookworm infection had significantly lower values for hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit. Significant eosinophilia was observed in the refugees infected with hookworms, Strongyloides stercoralis, Rhabditis sp., Endolimax nana and/or Hymenolepis nana. However, these parasites were found in the same subpopulations more frequently than expected by chance. Elevation in serum alkaline phosphatase was observed in young Cambodian immigrants. Analyses showed that the variations of this enzyme could be well predictable by those of enzymes such as serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, which are good markers for liver functions, in Cambodian immigrants, 13-24 of age, whereas no such correlation was observed in non-Cambodians of the same age group.     

Interleukin-6 gene promoter methylation in rheumatoid arthritis and chronic periodontitis

Background: Methylation status of the cytokine genes may play a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic periodontitis (CP). This study was undertaken to evaluate whether the DNA methylation profile of the interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) gene promoter was unique to individuals with RA and CP. Methods: The study participants consisted of 30 patients with RA, 30 patients with CP, and 30 age‐, sex‐, and smoking status–balanced healthy controls. Genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood was modified by sodium bisulfite and analyzed for DNA methylation levels of IL‐6 gene with direct sequencing. Levels of IL‐6 were determined by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The region of IL‐6 gene promoter from ?1200 to +27 bp was shown to contain 19 CpG motifs. The methylation levels of the CpG motif at ?74 bp were significantly lower in patients with RA and CP than those in controls (P = 0.0001). Both levels of serum IL‐6 and IL‐6 production by mononuclear cells were significantly different between individuals with and without the methylation at ?74 bp (P = 0.03). The +19 bp motif exhibited differential levels of the methylation among the groups, which was not associated with serum levels of IL‐6. The other 17 CpG motifs exhibited comparable levels of the methylation between the groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that hypomethylated status of a single CpG in the IL‐6 promoter region may lead to increased levels of serum IL‐6, implicating a role in the pathogenesis of RA and CP.     

Low-density lipoprotein apheresis therapy with a direct hemoperfusion column: a Japanese multicenter clinical trial

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis has been applied to patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) with coronary artery disease (CAD). To examine the efficacy and safety of a new type of LDL adsorption column (KLD01, Kaneka, Osaka, Japan), which deals with whole blood without separating plasma, the new system was evaluated in a multicenter trial. The present study included 33 FH patients with CAD (24 males, 9 females, 57 +/- 13 years) who were treated five times with a mean interval of 2.12 +/- 0.60 weeks between treatments. We studied the removal efficacies for serum LDL cholesterol, Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) and triglyceride, the times for the preparation of the system and for treatment, symptoms, and the biochemical data. The scheduled treatments were completed by 31 patients. Serum levels of LDL cholesterol, Lp(a) and triglycerides were all significantly reduced with KLD01; 61.5 +/- 6.2%, 72.4 +/- 5.9% and 69.5 +/- 9.7%, respectively. The times for both setting up the column system (26 +/- 7 min) and treatment (138 +/- 20 min) were shorter with KLD01 than conventional methods. Adverse reactions occurred in eight cases (17 episodes), but the patients fully recovered immediately after each apheresis therapy session. We conclude that the new type of LDL adsorption column, one that deals with whole blood, is a promising apheresis therapy for FH patients in view of its efficacy, reduced time for treatment, and safety.     

Heat treatment of Japanese lacquerware renders it hypoallergenic

Japanese lacquer is made from the sap of the Japanese lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum), a member of the Anacardiacae plant family. Objects painted with this material are described collectively as lacquerware. Both fresh lacquer and lacquerware may evoke allergic contact reactions ascribable to the urushiols contained therein. In this study, we have examined the effects of heating on the ability of lacquerware to elicit an allergic contact reaction. Lacquer films prepared with and without heat treatment were tested on urushiol-sensitive subjects. Patch test reactions were strongest to untreated film and decreased with increasing level of heat treatment. Assays for free urushiol in the lacquer films demonstrated that free urushiol content decreased with increasing heat treatment and that urushiols with saturated and monounsaturated alk(en)yl chains predominated.     

Relationship between growth retardation and impaired glucose tolerance in hypothyroidal growth‐retarded (grt) mice

Growth‐retarded (grt) mice exhibit congenital hypothyroidism and a characteristic growth pause followed by delayed onset of pubertal growth. This pattern of growth has never been reported in any other animal model exhibiting hypothyroidism; therefore, the growth retardation observed in grt mice is unlikely to be explained completely by the low plasma thyroid hormone levels. As growth is closely related to nutrient metabolism, we investigated the relationship between the appearance of growth retardation and glucose utilization, which is the main component of nutrient metabolism, in the peripubertal stage of grt mice. The relative weights of the organs involved in nutrient digestion and absorption were abnormal in grt mice. The intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IGTT) showed impaired glucose tolerance in grt mice. Moreover, this symptom appeared in parallel with the progression of growth retardation in grt mice. The impaired blood glucose levels on the IGTT in grt mice were considered to be attributable to decreased plasma insulin levels rather than to impaired insulin sensitivity. The pattern of anti‐insulin antibody staining on sections of pancreatic islets from grt mice was almost the same as that in the corresponding sections from normal mice. Insulin treatment accelerated the growth of peripubertal grt mice. These findings suggest that the appearance of growth retardation in grt mice might be partially attributable to a reduction in glucose metabolism and impairment of insulin secretion during the early period of growth.