Vasospastic angina and microvascular angina are differentially influenced by PON1 A632G polymorphism in the Japanese.

BACKGROUND: Ethnicity and smoking are well-known risk factors for the pathogenesis of coronary vasospasm. Oxidative stress induced by smoking plays a crucial role in coronary vasospasm, but is not enough to account for the pathogenesis of coronary vasospasm, indicating that genetic factors are strongly involved. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group comprised 162 vasospastic angina patients (VSAs), 61 microvascular angina patients (MVAs) and 61 non-responders (NRs) diagnosed by acetylcholine provocation test. Four polymorphisms of the oxidative stress related genes, cytochrome b-245, alpha polypeptide gene (CYBA) C242T and A640G, paraoxonase 1 gene (PON1) A632G, phospholipase A2 group VII gene (PLA2G7) G994T were genotyped. Allele frequency of PON1 632-G was significantly higher in both the VSA with dominant fashion and the MVA with recessive fashion compared with NR. This association was strongly influenced by gender in the MVA only. There were no significant associations between the other polymorphisms and coronary vasospasm. In addition, the allele frequency of PON1 632-G in the Japanese was higher than in Caucasians. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant association between PON1 A632G polymorphism and MVA as well as VSA, but the impact of this on VSA and MVA is different in the Japanese.     

Strain-differences of sensitivity to volatile anesthetics and their genetic character in mice

Using loss of the righting reflex, we determined the ED₅₀ values for enflurane, isoflurane, sevoflurane and halothane in white-haired ddN mice and black-haired C57BL mice. The ED₅₀s (Mean ± SEM) in ddN and C57BL mice for enflurane were 1.65 ± 0.01 and 1.19 ± 0.01% atm, for isoflurane 1.02 ± 0.01 and 0.74 ± 0.01% atm, for sevoflurane 2.29 ± 0.03 and 1.95 ± 0.03% atm, and for halothane 0.97 ± 0.01 and 0.97 ± 0.01% atm, respectively. The results indicate that the ddN strain is more resistant to enflurane, isoflurane and sevoflurane than the C57BL strain. The sensitivities to enflurane and isoflurane is F1 progeny of reciprocal crosses between ddN and C57BL mice revealed that in the ddN strain enflurane resistance is an incompletely dominant or polygenic character, isoflurane resistance in ddN strain is an autosomal recessive character and both are controlled by genes on the sex (X) chromosome. Enflurane and isoflurane resistances are controlled by at least 2 genes, one on the X chromosome, and each resistance is controlled by a different genetic mode.(Tanaka T, Ogli K, Komatsu H, et al.: Strain-differences of sensitivity to volatile anesthetics and their genetic character in mice. J Anesth 7: 75–81, 1993)     

Possible involvement of both N- and L-type voltage-dependent Ca channels in adrenergic neurotransmission of canine saphenous veins in low Ca2+ plus tetraethylammonium medium

Summary The involvement of N- and L-type voltage-dependent Ca channels (VDCCs) in adrenergic neurotransmission under the superfusion with 0.25 mM Ca²⁺ + 20 mM tetraethylammonium (low Ca²⁺ + TEA) medium has been studied by examining the effects of -conotoxin GVIA (-CTX) and dihydropyridine antagonists and agonist on transmural nerve stimulation (TNS)-evoked ³H overflow from canine saphenous veins preloaded with [³H]-noradrenaline. Nisoldipine (10 and 30 M) and nifedipine (30 M) reduced significantly the TNS-evoked ³H overflow in low Ca²⁺ + TEA medium, while the two dihydropyridine antagonists failed to suppress it in normal Krebs medium. Bay K 8644 (30 and 100 nM) produced a significant and concentration-dependent enhancement of the TNS-evoked ³H overflow in low Ca²⁺ + TEA medium. The enhancing effects of Bay K 8644 were antagonized by both 3 M nisoldipine and 10 tM nifedipine. -CTX inhibited markedly the TNS-evoked ³H overflow in both normal Krebs and low Ca²⁺ + TEA media, the inhibition by -CTX being ten times more potent in low Ca²⁺ + TEA medium. Nisoldipine (30 M), when combined with 1 nM -CTX, produced a further significant inhibition of the TNS-evoked ³H overflow in low Ca²⁺ + TEA medium. However, no additional inhibition by 30 M nisoldipine was observed when -CTX concentration was raised to 2 nM. In the veins superfused with normal Krebs medium, nisoldipine (30 M) did not affect the inhibitory effect of 10 nM -CTX on the evoked ³H overflow. The low Ca²⁺ + TEA medium increased the spontaneous ³H overflow, which was not influenced by -CTX and dihydropyridines. These results suggest that in low Ca²⁺ + TEA medium but not normal Krebs one, Ca²⁺ entry via both N- and L-type VDCCs may be involved in adrenergic neurotransmission in the canine saphenous veins. Correspondence to Y. Takata at the above address     

The expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin in patients and animal models with eosinophilic otitis media

Objective: In the present study, we aimed to clarify the expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a key trigger of Th2-type allergic disease, in the middle ear mucosa of eosinophilic otitis media (EOM).

Methods: An immunohistological study of TSLP was conducted in patients with EOM and in animal models of EOM constructed by intraperitoneal and intratympanic injection of ovalbumin for 7 and 14 days. In addition, the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of TSLP in the middle ear mucosa of the animal models was analyzed using real-time PCR, and was compared with that of the control animals.

Results: Immunoreactivities for TSLP were observed in the middle ear mucosa around the tympanic ostium of the eustachian tube of patients with EOM. In the animal model, strong immunoreactivity for TSLP was also observed in the eustachian tube epithelium, and mRNA expression of TSLP in the seven-day stimulated animals was significantly higher than that in the controls.

Conclusion: The present study indicates that the presence of epithelium-derived TSLP in the eustachian tubes plays an important role in the onset of EOM.     

Chronic Dehydration in Nursing Home Residents

Chronic dehydration mainly occurs due to insufficient fluid intake over a lengthy period of time, and nursing home residents are thought to be at high risk for chronic dehydration. However, few studies have investigated chronic dehydration, and new diagnostic methods are needed. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to identify risk factors for chronic dehydration by measuring serum osmolality in nursing home residents and also to evaluate whether examining the inferior vena cava (IVC) and determining the IVC collapsibility index (IVC-CI) by ultrasound can be helpful in the diagnosis of chronic dehydration. A total of 108 Japanese nursing home residents aged ≥65 years were recruited. IVC measurement was performed using a portable handheld ultrasound device. Fifteen residents (16.9%) were classified as having chronic dehydration (serum osmolality ≥295 mOsm/kg). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that chronic dehydration was associated with dementia (odds ratio (OR), 6.290; 95% confidential interval (CI), 1.270–31.154) and higher BMI (OR, 1.471; 95% CI, 1.105–1.958) but not with IVC or IVC-CI. Cognitive function and body weight of residents should be considered when establishing a strategy for preventing chronic dehydration in nursing homes.     

Dietary Acrylamide Intake and the Risks of Renal Cell,Prostate, and Bladder Cancers: A Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study

Acrylamide can be carcinogenic to humans. However, the association between the acrylamide and the risks of renal cell, prostate, and bladder cancers in Asians has not been assessed. We aimed to investigate this association in the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study data in 88,818 Japanese people (41,534 men and 47,284 women) who completed a food frequency questionnaire in the five-year follow-up survey in 1995 and 1998. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the dietary acrylamide intake. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). During a mean follow-up of 15.5 years (15.2 years of prostate cancer), 208 renal cell cancers, 1195 prostate cancers, and 392 bladder cancers were diagnosed. Compared to the lowest quintile of acrylamide intake, the multivariate hazard ratios for the highest quintile were 0.71 (95% CI: 0.38–1.34, p for trend = 0.294), 0.96 (95% CI: 0.75–1.22, p for trend = 0.726), and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.59–1.29, p for trend = 0.491) for renal cell, prostate, and bladder cancers, respectively, in the multivariate-adjusted model. No significant associations were observed in the stratified analyses based on smoking. Dietary acrylamide intake was not associated with the risk of renal cell, prostate, and bladder cancers.     

Renal morphology and function from childhood to adulthood in Turner syndrome

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology - Turner syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal disorder with various complications, including congenital anomaly of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). However, its...     

Frequency and influence of “not relevant” responses on the Dermatology Life Quality Index among adults with atopic dermatitis

Purpose

“Not relevant” responses (NRRs) on the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) are common among adults with psoriasis and may be associated with underestimation of disease burden. Little is known about “not relevant” responses among adults with atopic dermatitis. We aimed to examine the frequency of NRRs on the DLQI and to determine whether NRRs are associated with underestimation of disease burden among adults with atopic dermatitis.

Methods

Adults with atopic dermatitis were identified and evaluated via online survey. We evaluated the frequency of NRRs on the DLQI, stratified by sociodemographic characteristics. To examine the association between NRRs and other measures of disease burden, Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), Patient-Oriented SCORAD (PO-SCORAD), and Short-Form (SF)-12 scores were compared between those who responded “not relevant” versus “not at all”.

Results

Among 764 adults with atopic dermatitis, most had mild disease. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) POEM, PO-SCORAD, and DLQI scores were 5 (2–10), 24 (14–34), and 2 (1–6), respectively. Most (55.2%) also had at least one NRR, and 17.9% had 4 or more “not relevant” responses, with differences across several sociodemographic characteristics. There were no substantial differences in SF-12, POEM, and PO-SCORAD scores between those who responded “not relevant” versus “not at all”.

Conclusion

NRRs on the DLQI are common among adults with atopic dermatitis and differ across sociodemographic characteristics, suggesting issues with content validity. There is not a clear association between NRRs and other measures of disease severity among adults with mostly mild atopic dermatitis.