Association study of G1704T and G82S polymorphisms of RAGE gene for microalbuminuria in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients

To clarify whether polymorphisms G1704T and G82S of the RAGE gene were related to microalbuminuria, we performed a case-control study in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients. Polymorphisms G1704T and G82S of the RAGE gene were examined with genomic DNA obtained from 116 type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria (urinary albumin/creatinine ratio between 30 and 300 mg/g of creatinine) (microalbuminuria group), and 232 patients with normoalbuminuria (urinary albumin/creatinine ratio <30 mg/g of creatinine) (normoalbuminuria group). The genotype distribution and T allele frequency of G1704T (9.9%) and S allele frequency of G82S (14.2%) in the microalbuminuria group did not significantly differ from those (T allele frequency, 8.4%; S allele frequency, 12.3%) in the normoalbuminuria group. There were no differences among the genotypes of G1704T and G82S of the RAGE gene regarding age, duration of diabetes, body mass index, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure, and serum lipid levels. These data suggest that G1704T and G82S polymorphisms of the RAGE gene are not related to microalbuminuria in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.     

Sensitivity and related factors in iodine-123-beta-methyl-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid myocardial scintigraphy to detect stable effort angina pectoris

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the sensitivity and the related factors in iodine-123-beta-methyl-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) scintigraphy to detect stable angina. METHODS: The subjects were 198 patients with stable angina who underwent BMIPP before percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary bypass graft surgery. Patients with unstable angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy and vasospastic angina were excluded. After investigation of the sensitivity of BMIPP, the patients with single-vessel disease without collateral flow were classified into the normal (123)I-BMIPP uptake group (normal group)or decreased (123)I-BMIPP uptake group (decreased group), and various factors were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Sensitivity was 61% overall, 58% in single-vessel disease, 69% in double-vessel disease, 53% in triple-vessel disease, 43% in only left main vessel disease, and 89% in left main and other vessel disease (NS). In single-vessel disease, the sensitivity was 40% in 75% coronary artery stenosis, 58% in 90% stenosis, 89% in 99% stenosis, and 69% in total occlusion (p = 0.003). Comparing the deoreased and normal groups, diabetes mellitus was more frequent in the normal group (14.6% vs 39.5%), minimal lumen diameter was smaller (0.75 +/- 0.37 vs 0.98 +/- 0.49 mm) and lesion length was longer in the decreased group (15.4 +/- 4.9 vs 11.6 +/- 5.5 mm). Logistic multivariate analysis showed that the independent factors were diabetes mellitus [odds ratio 0.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04-0.87, p = 0.03], minimal lumen diameter (odds ratio 0.10, 95% CI 0.02-0.48, p = 0.003) and lesion length (odds ratio 1.12, 95% CI 1.00-1.25, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: BMIPP is useful in stable angina patients because of the acceptable sensitivity. Diabetes mellitus, minimal lumen diameter and lesion length were independent factors associated with decreased BMIPP uptake.     

Anomalous right coronary artery originating from the distal left circumflex artery: single coronary artery with choronic atrial fibrillation

This report describes a patient with a single coronary artery in whom the right coronary artery originated from the distal left circumflex artery. Single coronary artery is a rare congenital anomaly of the coronary circulation which is often associated with other congenital cardiac malformations. This anomaly is thought to be clinically significant especially in patients with atrial fibrillation, although no other associated cardiac anomaly was detected.     

Focal nodular hyperplasia-like lesion with venous washout in alcoholic liver cirrhosis

A case of 22 mm hypervascular nodule in segment two of the liver but without hepatitis B or C virus infection in a 32-year-old Japanese woman with a history of alcohol abuse is presented. Imaging studies such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed hypervascularity in the early phase and venous washout in the late phase. Histologically, stellate scar-like fibrous septa, pericellular fibrosis, fatty change, neutrophilic infiltration, slight increase of cell density, and diffuse capillarization of the sinusoids together with small unpaired arteries were observed. The nodule was diagnosed as focal nodular hyperplasia-like lesion in alcoholic liver cirrhosis.     

Epidemiological trends of imported infectious diseases in Japan: Analysis of imported 2-year infectious disease registry data

IntroductionThe epidemiology of infectious diseases in Japan remains undefined despite the increasing tourism. GeoSentinel, an epidemiological surveillance system for reporting imported infectious diseases, has only two participating facilities in Japan. Although the number of infectious diseases is reported by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, there is no detailed clinical information about these cases. Therefore, we established J-RIDA (Japan Registry for Infectious Diseases from Abroad) to clarify the status of imported infectious diseases in Japan and provide detailed information.MethodsJ-RIDA was started as a registry of imported infectious diseases. Case registration began in October 2017. Between October 2017 and September 2019, 15 medical institutions participated in this clinical study. The registry collected information about the patient's age, sex, nationality, chief complaint, consultation date, date of onset, whether visit was made to a travel clinic before travel, blood test results (if samples were collected), travel history, and final diagnosis.ResultsOf the 3046 cases included in this study, 46.7% to Southeast Asia, 13.0% to Africa, 13.7% to East Asia, 11.5% to South Asia, 7.5% to Europe, 3.8% to Central and South America, 4.6% to North America, 3.9% to Oceania, and 2.8% to Central and west Asia. More than 85% of chief complaints were fever and general symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory symptoms, or dermatologic problems. The most common diseases were travelers’ diarrhea, animal bite, upper respiratory infection, influenza, and dengue fever.ConclusionsWe summarized two-year cases registered in Japan's imported infectious disease registry. These results will significantly contribute to the epidemiology in Japan.     

Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor–Producing Cholangiocellular Carcinoma

A 61-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with epigastric pain and fever. The laboratory data showed severe inflammatory reactions. Computed tomography revealed an irregular tumor in the left hepatic lobe and swelling of lymph nodes. ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) showed high uptake by the tumor, with diffuse uptake in the spine. Based on the elevated leukocyte count and FDG-PET findings, the patient was diagnosed with a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-producing tumor (G-CSF, 213 pg/mL). We performed left trisegmentectomy of the liver, bile duct resection, and lymph node dissection. Histologically, the tumor was a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with some lymph nodes metastasis. Immunohistochemical staining of the tumor cells was positive for G-CSF. Therefore, the tumor was diagnosed as G-CSF–producing cholangiocellular carcinoma. The inflammatory reactions and serum G-CSF level transiently improved immediately after surgery. However, 1 month later, the leukocyte count and serum G-CSF level increased again, and recurrence was observed in the remnant liver. The patient died 3 months after the operation. G-CSF–producing cholangiocellular carcinoma is rare. This tumor progresses rapidly, and surgical treatment for advanced condition should be carefully selected.Key words: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, Cholangiocellular carcinoma, FDG-PET, Immunohistochemistry, LeukocytosisGranulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-producing tumors were first reported in 1977.¹ G-CSF-producing cholangiocellular carcinomas (CCCs) are rare, with only 5 other reported cases. We herein report a surgical case of G-CSF–producing CCC with early recurrence and include bibliographic comments.     

Development of 18 novel polymorphic microsatellite markers for the mysid crustacean Mesopodopsis orientalis

Conservation Genetics Resources - We have developed microsatellite DNA markers for Mesopodopsis orientalis (Tattersall 1908), a widely distributed mysid crustacean in shallow waters of the coastal...