The association between the incidence of urolithiasis and nutrition based on Japanese National Health and Nutrition Surveys

To clarify the association between regional variations in urolithiasis incidence and nutrition intake, we evaluated associated data from Japanese national surveys. The incidence of urolithiasis in 12 regions of Japan was calculated from 2005 patient data obtained from 430 hospitals (n = 92,797). Nutrition intake data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Survey. We examined the association between urolithiasis incidence and average intake of various types of food or nutrients by region. Continuing surveys in Japan reveal fixed variations in urolithiasis incidence among geographic regions. The national average of patients with urolithiasis was estimated as 203.1 per 100,000 citizens. Regarding food, intake of fruit correlated negatively with the incidence of urolithiasis (r = ?0.721, p = 0.008), while intake of eggs (r = 0.537, p = 0.072) and sugar (r = 0.475, p = 0.119) tended to positively correlate with incidence. Regarding nutrients, intake of potassium (r = ?0.500, p = 0.098), vitamin K (r = ?0.562, p = 0.057), and pantothenic acid (r = ?0.560, p = 0.058) tended to negatively correlate with incidence. The incidence of urolithiasis is higher in geographic areas with populations having low fruit and high sugar intake.     

Aortic valve replacement for a patient with anomalous left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery (LCA) from the right sinus of Valsalva (RSOV) is an uncommon but clinically important feature. A 75-year-old man with progressive nocturnal dyspnea was diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis and moderate regurgitation. Preoperative computed tomographic scan revealed that the LCA originated from the RSOV separate from the right coronary artery and coursed into the ventricular septum. Because he did not experience any episodes of cardiac ischemia, isolated aortic valve replacement was performed using a 23-mm stented bioprosthesis without concomitant coronary revascularization. The postoperative course was free from coronary ischemia.     

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor with a novel mutation of KIT proto-oncogene

The majority of human gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors are gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Recent reports have shown the existence of gain-of-function mutations in the juxta-membrane domain of receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) in GISTs. We present a 77-year-old woman with GIST diagnosed by positive immunostaining of cluster designation (CD) 34 and KIT. This case had a novel mutation at codon 576 located in the juxta-membrane domain of KIT. Our results indicate the importance of mutations in this KIT region and suggest the possibility of the existence of other types of mutations in this region in GISTs.     

Dietary sodium restriction restores nocturnal reduction of blood pressure in patients with primary aldosteronism.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of dietary sodium restriction on diurnal blood pressure (BP) variation in primary aldosteronism. We studied the diurnal variation in the systemic hemodynamic indices and in baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). In 13 subjects with aldosterone-producing adenomas (2 males; mean age, 39+/-2 years), intra-arterial pressure was monitored telemetrically on a normal salt diet (NaCl 10-12 g/day). Non-dippers were defined as those with a nocturnal reduction in systolic BP (SBP) of less than 10% of daytime SBP. Ten subjects showed a non-dipper pattern. Six of these "non-dippers" underwent repetitive hemodynamic studies on the last day of a 1-week low salt diet regimen (NaCl 2-4 g/day). Stroke volume was determined using Wesseling's pulse contour method, calibrated with indocyanine green dilution. BRS was calculated every 30 min as delta pulse interval/delta SBP on spontaneous variations. Nocturnal reduction of SBP was 4.1% on the normal salt diet. With sodium restriction, urinary sodium excretion decreased from 187+/-8 to 46+/-8 mmol/day, and body weight decreased from 57.9+/-2.1 to 56.6+/-1.9 kg. Night-time BP significantly decreased with dietary modification from 154+/-7/88+/-4 to 140+/-6/78+/-4 mmHg, whereas daytime BP was unaltered. With sodium restriction, cardiac index and stroke index decreased throughout the day. No significant difference was seen in either daytime or nighttime BRS between the two diets. We conclude that the non-dipper pattern is common in patients with an aldosterone-producing adenoma on a normal salt intake, and under such conditions, volume expansion appears to play a major role in the impairment of nocturnal BP reduction.     

Efficacy of Rebamipide Enemas in Active Distal Ulcerative Colitis and Proctitis: A Prospective Study Report

Rebamipide has a broad spectrum of pharmacological actions that include suppression of neutrophil functions and stimulation of mucosal epithelial cell regeneration by increasing the expression of epithelial growth factor (EGF) and the EGF receptor. Sixteen patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC; mild in 1 patient, moderate in 11, and severe in 4) were recruited. Enemas containing 150 mg rebamipide per dosing were administered during the daytime after passage of stool, twice a day for 4 weeks. UC disease activity index (UC-DAI), endoscopic activity index (EAI), and Floren's grading (FG) of mucosal biopsy specimens were measured at entry and at 4 weeks. Five of 16 patients did not complete the study, and therefore, final efficacy assessment was done on 11 patients who completed the 4 weeks of treatment. Improvements were observed in UC-DAI (P= 0.0049), EAI (P= 0.0043), and FG (P= 0.0084). There was no serious rebamipide-related side effect in any of the 16 patients. In conclusion, rebamipide topical therapy appears to be effective for the treatment of mildly to moderately active distal UC. Further controlled studies are warranted for this promising drug.     

The role of cysteinyl leukotrienes in the pathogenesis of asthma: Clinical study of leukotriene antagonist pranlukast for 1 year in moderate and severe asthma

Clinical studies have shown that pranlukast (Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Osaka, Japan) is effective for mild and moderate asthma. However, it is not well known that pranlukast is also effective on moderate and severe persistent asthma in the long term. We studied the effect of pranlukast on moderate and severe asthmatics by evaluating the change of peak expiratory flow (PEF) and therapeutic scores for 1 year before and during pranlukast therapy. We gave pranlukast 225 mg twice daily orally to 25 patients who were receiving more than 400 micrograms/day beclomethasone inhalation and beta 2 stimulant inhalation with or without oral corticosteroid. Pranlukast increased PEF more than 10 L/min in 14 patients in the first 4 weeks. In these 14 patients, 10 patients continued to monitor PEF and kept asthma diaries for 1 year. We compared the data for 1 year before and during the pranlukast therapy. During the pranlukast therapy, PEF significantly increased, puffs of beta 2 stimulant inhalation significantly decreased. The incidence of oral corticosteroid rescue therapy reduced, and the mean daily dose of oral corticosteroid decreased; however, they were not statistically significant. During treatment with pranlukast, no side effect was observed. From these results, we suggest that pranlukast is effective for more than half of the moderate and severe persistent asthmatics, and that the effectiveness continues for more than 1 year.     

Dietary instructions focusing on meal-sequence and nutritional balance for prediabetes subjects: An exploratory,cluster-randomized,prospective, open-label,clinical trial

BackgroundAlthough lifestyle modifications are known to be effective in type 2 diabetes (T2D) as well as in prediabetes, adherence to a healthy diet is difficult for some, and interventions of lifestyle modifications need to be revised occasionally. Meal sequence has been gaining attention as a part of a healthy diet among T2D individuals to improve glycemia and body weight. In addition, a dietary instruction program, SMART Washoku®, which can help individuals to consume a more nutritionally balanced diet, has been developed.MethodsThe current exploratory trial was designed to examine the effects of dietary instructions focusing on meal sequence and nutritional balance in individuals with prediabetes in the Japanese national health check-up and guidance program. Participants were cluster-randomized into three groups: Group A, receiving a conventional health guidance program (n = 11); Group B, receiving health guidance with dietary instructions focusing on meal sequence (n = 18); and Group C, receiving health guidance with dietary instructions focusing on nutritional balance (n = 13). Participants received health guidance education and various measurements before and 6 months after the instructions.ResultsBody weight in Group B was significantly reduced compared to that in Group A, with similar adherence, while the effects on glycemia were similar between the two Groups. Body weight reduction was greater in Group C compared to that in Group A, although adherence in Group C was significantly lower than that in Group A.ConclusionThe group receiving health guidance with dietary instructions focusing on meal sequence exhibited similar adherence and greater reduction in body weight than the group receiving conventional health guidance.